What to expect from a drain survey - easy drain inspections

What to expect during a drain survey

Services provided by drain jetting companies and drain surveyors can be confusing when you first get started. But the process is actually much easier and less hassle than many think!

At The Drain Survey Company, we want to answer your common drain survey questions. This can help you with preparing for a drain survey and preventing typical survey misconceptions.

Want to know what to expect from a drain survey? Read on.

What is a CCTV drain survey?

A professional CCTV drain surveys involves inserting a specialist camera down into a drainage system to inspect the system for issues and damage. It’s one of the best ways to identify problems like drain blockages, system leaks and damage from tree roots.

There are many benefits of drain surveys. Some customers simply want a quick check to keep on top of their drain maintenance. Others have a specific issue like a flooded patio or bad odours coming from the drains. We get lots of property owners and landlords ask us to provide a drain survey for homebuyers as part of a sales process. It can also be used for drain mapping purposes.

The drain survey process explained

Your drain surveyor will guide you through the drain survey process step by step. They’ll discuss any issues you’ve been having and why you’d like the survey. They will then perform a visual inspection of anything they can easily see before setting up the necessary CCTV feed, including the camera and access rods.

Your surveyor will carefully insert the high-tech waterproof drain camera into the system, getting instant access to a live feed from inside your drains. They’ll be able to view this live footage on a screen to get a detailed look at what’s happening.

Your drain inspector can then compile a report of their findings, including recommendations for repairs or cleaning services like drain jetting.

What to expect from professional drain jetting?

If your drain inspection flags problems such as tree root ingress or blockages inside the system (from things like debris, leaves and fatbergs), your surveyor may recommend drain jetting. This is a specialist form of hydro-jetting service that involves blasting pressurised water into the drain.

Your drain company will carefully insert the nozzle of the jetting machine and direct it to the correct place, having identified issues via a CCTV survey. After the machine is turned on, the high-pressure water jet will break down the blockage so that any debris is flushed through the system.

A final drain inspection then takes place to ensure the issue has been corrected and the blockage has gone. It also gives better visibility to see what the condition of the pipes is like. Professional drain jetting is highly useful in stopping your pipes from getting blocked by removing scale and other residue build-ups.