Quick answer
A CCTV drain survey shows the inside of a drain, so you see the fault instead of guessing from the symptoms. It can find cracks, roots, displaced joints, blockages, build-up and collapses. It is worth arranging when you buy a home, when a blockage keeps coming back, or before building work.
What the camera finds
An engineer feeds a small waterproof camera along the pipe and records what it sees. The footage shows the condition of the pipe wall and the joints, while it also shows what sits inside the pipe. Typical findings include:
- Cracks and breaks in the pipe wall
- Roots growing in through the joints
- Joints that have slipped out of line
- Blockages and build-up, such as grease or debris
- Scale on the pipe wall that narrows the flow
- Collapsed or crushed sections
Some of these are repair jobs and some are cleaning jobs. The survey tells you which one you have, because the camera shows the cause. Our guide to signs a drain needs repair explains the difference.
When a survey is worth arranging
A survey earns its price when the cause is unclear. Four situations stand out.
- You are buying a property and want to check the drains before you exchange contracts
- The same sink, gully or manhole keeps backing up after clearing
- You see wet ground, a sunken patch or a smell near the drain run
- You plan an extension, patio or landscaping near the pipes
For the first case, our guide for home buyers on CCTV drain surveys covers the timing and the steps. The pre-purchase survey page covers the visit itself.
For the other three, the drainage investigation page is the place to start. Rodding or jetting alone treats the symptom, while a camera shows the cause.
How to read the report
A useful report names each fault, says where it sits along the drain and says how serious it is. It may include stills or short clips. Ask whether you also receive the full video, because the report alone may leave gaps.
Use the report to sort faults into two groups. For example, some are service faults, such as roots or debris, which cleaning can often deal with. Others are structural faults, such as cracks or displaced joints, which may need repair.
If the report is unclear, ask the engineer to explain it before you act. A repair quote is easier to compare since you know which fault it targets. The drain repairs page lists the main options.
Who looks after which pipe
Yorkshire Water's whose-pipe page sets out the split. You look after the drain from your home until it reaches a shared drain or a public sewer. Yorkshire Water looks after public sewers, and shared drains that flow into one if your home was built before 2011.
Yorkshire Water is the sewerage company for Selby. For Tadcaster, check your supplier. The survey helps either way, since it shows which stretch of drain holds the fault. Our guide to blocked drains in Selby adds the river context for that town.
What a survey costs
Prices depend on the length of the drain, the access and the report. For example, MyJobQuote gives a typical UK range of £90-£500, with an average of £250. Survey Match gives £150-£500+ plus VAT.
These are two separate sources and two sets of figures, so do not blend them. They are typical UK ranges, not Selby or Tadcaster quotes. Ask the engineer for a written quote that says what it covers.
Where to start
Survey pages exist for CCTV drain surveys in Selby and CCTV drain surveys in Tadcaster. If a survey finds damage, the page on drain repairs in Selby explains the next step. The locations page lists the other areas, and the CCTV drain surveys service page covers the service.
Survey pages also cover CCTV drain surveys in Strensall and CCTV drain surveys in Bishopthorpe. If a survey finds damage, see drain repairs in Haxby or drain repairs in Strensall.
To ask for a survey, use the request form. It is open 24/7, although you should mark a request urgent only if sewage is coming up.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a drain survey before buying a house?
It is not a legal requirement. However, it can show roots, a collapse or a poor connection while you can still use the result in your offer. Ask your solicitor to arrange access before you exchange contracts.
What is the difference between a survey and clearing a blockage?
Clearing a blockage deals with what is there now. A survey shows why it happened and whether it is likely to return. That matters since the same drain may keep backing up.
Can a survey show a collapsed drain?
Yes, a camera can show a collapsed or crushed section. However, if the camera cannot pass, the report should say where it stopped. Ask what the engineer suggests next.
Does a survey fix the problem?
No, a survey only finds and records the fault, while a cleaning or repair job is a separate step with its own quote. Ask for the quote in writing before work starts.
