What is a CCTV drain survey and why are they important? Well, we all take our drains for granted. We generally don’t pay them too much attention; unless there’s a problem.
Here at TWC Draincare, we understand just how important your drains are. In this blog post, we explain everything you need to know about CCTV drain surveys.
Key Takeaways
- When should a CCTV drain survey be done?
- What a CCTV drain survey includes.
- How a CCTV drain survey is completed.
- What can affect the information in a CCTV drain survey?
- What the report means.
Why are CCTV drain surveys important?
Unfortunately, when drains cause issues they can be quite costly to sort out. As drain lines largely run underground, determining the source of the problem is not always easy. That’s where a CCTV drain survey comes in.
CCTV drain surveys use the latest in drain technology to obtain a clear view of a drainage system. The survey is entirely non-invasive and requires no excavation.
One of our experienced engineers inserts a high-resolution camera into the drains around the property, capturing real-time video footage of what’s inside. The images aren’t always pretty, but they are very informative. They don’t just determine where drain lines are running, but they also assess the structural condition of the lines, pinpointing the location of any issues with great accuracy, but with minimal disruption.
When should I do a CCTV drain survey?
A CCTV drain survey can be completed at any time- not just when there’s a problem. However, there are several situations which indicate a CCTV drain survey is what you need:
When you are buying (or selling) a property
When you are buying a house the drainage system is part of what you’re paying for. And it is a significant part, as if there are issues then they may be quite costly to put right. Something you’d much rather know before you buy a house, rather than just after.
If you’re having a Homebuyers Survey done then the surveyor will do a visual inspection of the drains they can easily access (for example they will look at the surface condition of any outside gullies) but they won’t look at the condition of the pipes themselves or where they are running to.
If there is evidence of movement (subsidence) in or around the property, or where there are issues with dampness then the drain lines can be an underlying factor. A CCTV drain survey will determine the condition of the drains and will provide you with the information you need to know what is needed to put things right before you commit to buying.
When you’re having persistent issues with your drains
If you’re having constant issues with your drains then this is an indication that there’s something wrong. Drain lines shouldn’t block frequently and if they are then there’s an underlying problem that needs fixing.
Drain lines are often connected in a maze-like way, running around and underneath your property, it’s therefore not always apparent where the problem is. A CCTV drain survey will identify what’s going on and help you understand what is needed to put things right.
When there are structural concerns or where you are having building work completed
If you’re having wider issues with your property, including subsidence or rising dampness then your drains could be affected (or could even be the cause). A CCTV survey will help you understand this.
Equally, if you’re doing some construction work, like adding an extension, then it’s always advisable to ensure you understand exactly where the drains on your property are running to and from so you don’t cause any damage.
What does a CCTV survey include?
A CCTV drain survey looks at the purpose, structure and condition of the drainage system. It should, when done correctly, provide you with all the information you need to understand how your drainage system works and whether it’s in good condition.
The key things it should include are:
- A drainage plan. This should show where drain lines are running to/from on the property and what type of waste is flowing through them (e.g. surface water, foul water etc).
- An assessment of the condition of the lines. Each line should be assessed for signs of defects which should then be graded using the recognised DRB system. This indicates, using a traffic light system, the condition of each of the lines. Where there are defects the colour-coded system indicates how severe the repairs are.
- Recommendations. If the drains on the property do need some TLC then the report you receive should include recommendations as to what repairs are needed, together with an indication of the cost of repair.
What is involved in a CCTV drain survey?
There are several steps involved in completing a CCTV drain survey. The more information that can be gathered at each stage, the better. This will make the report as comprehensive as possible. Having said that, none of the steps should be particularly onerous or disruptive to you.
The process of preparing a CCTV drain survey follows the steps below:
Step 1: Book an appointment. The key step for all reports is having an engineer visit the property to gather the information needed. The engineer will need full access to the exterior of the property so we’ll need to ensure there are no locked gates etc.
Step 2: The engineers visit. Depending on the size of the property the engineer is likely to be on site for around 2-3 hours. During this time he will gather all of the information needed for the report. He’ll walk around the full exterior of the property identifying drainage sites and access points. This will be used to prepare a draft drainage plan. He’ll then use his CCTV equipment to record footage of the drain lines.
Step 3: Once the engineer has gathered all of the information this is then used to prepare the CCTV drain report. The drainage plan will be finalised and the footage analysed to identify the condition of the lines and any remedial work explained.
Step 4: On completion, the report will be sent to you, together with the footage taken by the engineer. From the date of the appointment with the engineer, a report should be sent to you within around 7 days.
What do you need to know beforehand?
As noted, when completing a CCTV drain survey, it is important that the engineer has full access to the exterior of the property when he arrives for his appointment.
The CCTV drain survey report will focus on the external drainage lines (those running underground), and the engineer will use external access points, e.g. manholes and inspection chambers, to inspect the lines in and around the property.
To enable CCTV footage to be taken there needs to be an entry point (like a manhole) which is large enough to fit the CCTV equipment into (around 4 inches or 100mm in diameter).
If there is a blockage in the line, then this may prevent the CCTV equipment from accessing and will mean that the full line may not be recorded. The engineer will clear relatively simple blockages during his visit, but more severe blockages (such as those caused by roots etc) may cause the survey of that line to be abandoned and will show as an observation/defect on the report.
The CCTV drain survey is specific to an individual property; it will look at only those lines which are the responsibility of the property owner, so will not include shared lines (owned by the water authority) or lines on a neighbour’s property. The lines will be identifiable from the site plan which is included in the report.
If the property is not connected to the main sewer system then you may require a ‘Compliance Check’ instead. This includes a CCTV drain survey but is specific to off-mains systems, like septic tanks or treatment plants. A compliance check checks their condition but also assesses their compliance with the general binding rules around discharges. This will be discussed with you when booking your appointment.
What does the report mean?
A CCTV drain report is prepared using specialist software which can be complex to interpret if you’re not used to reading them. Thankfully, here at TWC Draincare, we are experts and we try to make it as easy to understand as possible.
The first thing to check is the drainage plan of the property. This will show you where the lines are flowing to and from.
There are then separate sections for each of the drain lines surveyed by the engineer. Each section (which will tie back to the drainage plan) includes lots of technical information regarding the specification, flow and condition of the line. The sections will be graded using the DRB system, which is marked as either Grade A, Grade B or Grade C (with Grade A being good and Grade C needing work).
Where there are issues or defects, then the report will show an image of the defect together with a description and location of the problem.
What sort of defects will the report identify?
Some of the most common defects we see are:
Roots: these are a very common issue which can be very destructive to drains. When a root finds its way into a drain pipe it can continue to grow. This means you’re not just dealing with the initial damage where the root enters the pipe, but you’re going to be faced with frequent blockages and smells.
Build-up: Each and every day a lot of waste passes through our drains. This waste, be it surface water or foul water takes its toll on the pipes themselves. Even water can be destructive, causing a build-up of limescale. This build-up can dramatically reduce the diameter of the pipe, making blockages more likely. It can also cause corrosion to the pipe itself.
Displacements: Our drains are made of lots of smaller sections of pipe which are joined together to form a longer line. When the joint between two pipes is disturbed this can cause a misalignment, creating a gap between the pipes where waste can escape and/or get caught.
Cracks or fractures: most pipes are made of clay, which is hard-wearing but is not indestructible. Where the ground around the pipes have been disturbed, or where the pipe has been put under pressure it can crack and become weakened.
Collapses: in extreme cases, where the pressure placed on a pipe is excessive then this can cause the pipe to collapse.
Why Choose TWC for your CCTV drain survey?
CCTV drain reports can be quite technical. We often receive calls from customers who have had a drain survey done by someone else but can’t understand what it’s telling them. But don’t worry, we’re here to help!
The CCTV drain reports that we compile always contain a helpful ‘Summary’ section which breaks down the key aspects so you can understand the main points.
Our reports aim to ensure they provide you with the information you need, in a way you can understand.
We always provide you with copies of the footage obtained by the engineer too if you want to get a second opinion. And, where we can, we will provide you with an estimate to complete any required repair work.
Hopefully, this has answered all of your questions on CCTV drain surveys and CCTV drain reports, but if not please get in touch by calling us on 03333 052 243 or emailing us at help@twc-draincare.com.
