How to choose a drain survey company

The condition of your drains is paramount to good property maintenance, identifying issues and preventing costly remedial work. Whether you’re buying a new home or investigating an existing drainage problem, it’s essential to hire the right drain survey provider for the job, saving you time, hassle and money.

Here are our top tips for selecting a drain survey company.

What does a drain survey company do?

A drain surveyor uses CCTV technology to inspect underground pipework for blockages, cracks and damage. This could be to locate a specific problem (e.g. why your drains are overflowing) or a specialist report like a homebuyer drain survey. An experienced company will offer a variety of services, including commercial drain surveys, drain mapping and drain condition reports.

Read more in our blog on: The benefits of conducting a drain survey

What are the qualities of reliable drain surveyors?

A reputable drain survey company will be able to provide you with details of their relevant certifications, memberships and qualifications. This could also include schemes they’re part of, such as Safety Schemes in Procurement (SSIP) like SMAS Worksafe.

They should have modern equipment, using CCTV cameras and sonar mapping tools to provide you with accurate reports. All pricing should be transparent, and you should get a feel for their knowledge and expertise when you speak to them. For example, do they talk about the difference between survey types or explain how they will assist you with understanding drain survey reports? Always contact the company directly to speak to their team.

Good questions to ask drain survey firms

Before hiring anyone, it’s a good idea to think about your aims for the survey and what you need to know before committing. Questions for potential drain surveyors include:

What drain surveys do you offer?
What equipment will you use?
Do you offer CCTV drain surveys?
Can you provide a sample of your drain reports?
Are your surveyors accredited?
When can you schedule the drain inspection?
How long before a drain report is provided?
What happens if there’s an issue – will you recommend drain repairs?

Cost considerations for drain surveys

Most people want to know how much a drain survey costs, but this will vary from case to case, depending on the property size, the extent of the inspections required and the locations of drains. The type of survey also matters, with homebuyer drain surveys and commercial drain reports coming in higher than your basic CCTV drain survey.

As for how to evaluate drain survey quotes? Well, not all drain surveys are the same, so check your quote includes the type of survey, equipment used and how much of the system will be checked. You should also look out for hidden fees like call-out charges, additional charges for extensive blockages and separate costings for providing reports. A good drain survey company will offer a detailed quote if requested.