Everything You Need to Know About CCTV Drain Survey


The biggest challenge in maintaining drains and sewers is that they’re hidden underground. Without a view, you don’t know what’s going on inside them. If we can only spot potential issues right away, we can prevent serious problems from developing. The answer to this is a CCTV drain survey. Using a high-tech camera, it’s now easier to check whether your drain and sewers are working properly. In this guide, let’s discuss what’s all about a CCTV drain survey.

A CCTV drain survey is a modern technology for assessing the condition of drains and sewers using a remote-controlled CCTV. It produces high-quality images of the inside of your pipeline cheaper and faster. You can identify potential problems and put an action plan easily. As such, they can prevent small issues to stress you out into a big one.

Uses of a CCTV Drain Survey

A CCTV drainage survey is a perfect option for:

  • Inspecting drain and sewers for any blockage, poor water flow, and water pollution. They can become a real threat if they’re not addressed early and properly.
  • A CCTV drainage survey helps construction projects set drains and sewers systems that meet standard regulations.
  • Asset owners use a CCTV drainage survey in planning preventive maintenance.
  • They also support repairs, rehabilitation, and replacement of pipes.

Benefits of a CCTV Drain Survey

There are lots of benefits we can get from a CCTV drainage survey. Among them are:

  • They are a cost-effective way of inspecting drains and sewers. You don’t need to worry about flooding your home. As such, you save money from hiring someone to do the clean-up for you.
  • They offer support at minimal disruption. A CCTV drainage survey helps asset managers and construction in planning maintenance and infrastructures undergone without the need for digging.
  • They provide a more accurate and faster diagnosis of blocked drains and sewers. A CCTV drainage survey delivers quality images of your drains. These photos can help you easily spot blockages or damaged pipes. In this way, you can quickly put a repair plan in place.

How Does a CCTV Drain Survey Work?

The following equipment is needed to conduct a CCTV drainage survey:

  • Access rods to push the CCTV on the drainage system. They should be highly flexible for easier navigation around corners and tight turns.
  • Remote-operated crawlers for a quick visual of the sewer system. This is to properly prepare the path for the CCTV and rods. Crawlers have excellent mobility even in blocked drains.
  • Sonar survey units on standby. They can be used for acoustic profiling of filled pipes in case visual access isn’t possible.
  • Waterproof CCTVs (Closed Circuit Televisions) are state-of-the-art cameras that can operate in tight spaces and under the water. They are the main tools needed to get an accurate visual of your drains and sewers.

Here’s the process on how to conduct a CCTV drainage survey:

  • An engineer, pipeline specialist, or plumber will discuss the problems you’re having with your drains and sewers.
  • Once they establish that a drain survey is needed to resolve the issue, the process will start.
  • They will insert a waterproof CCTV on your drain system.
  • While navigating the CCTV, they will observe the visual feed from the camera to assess any blockage or damage. Common findings will be blockages, burst or collapsed pipes, pipe corrosion, infestation, and tree roots ingress on the system.
  • After the CCTV drainage survey, they will recommend a plan of action to resolve the problems on your drains and sewers.

In general, a CCTV drain survey allows you to address small issues on your drain and sewers before it gets serious. It saves you money, stress, time, and trouble.


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