What you are actually paying for
A survey is more than pushing a camera down a pipe. There is the visit itself, the time spent finding and opening chambers, running the camera along each length, recording footage and then explaining what it shows. Some surveys also include a written report that sets out each defect, its position and a recommended next step.
Attendance
Travel, setting up and the time on site, which grows with the size of the drainage system.
The inspection
Running the camera along each accessible length and recording what it sees.
Footage
A recording you keep, so the findings can be shown to others.
Written report
Optional. Useful when a buyer, insurer, landlord or builder needs a document rather than a conversation.
Things that change the price
The biggest factor is how much drain there is to look at. A terraced house with one short run to the boundary is a quick job. A detached house with separate foul and surface water systems, several chambers and a long garden takes considerably longer.
Access comes next. If chambers are easy to find and lift, the camera goes straight in. If covers are buried under gravel, seized in their frames or hidden beneath decking, time goes on finding and freeing them first. Where there is no chamber at all, access may have to be made through a gully or a rodding point, which limits what can be seen.
A drain that is blocked has to be cleared before the camera can travel along it, so that work is added. Depth makes a difference too: deep chambers need more care to work in safely. Finally, a written report takes time to prepare after the visit, so it costs more than a verbal run-through of the footage.
Why a survey can save money
Without a survey, any repair is a guess. A drain that blocks every few months could have roots at one joint, a dip where the pipe has sunk, or a full collapse. Each of those needs a different fix, and the wrong one wastes money and leaves the problem in place. The survey decides between a no-dig patch, a liner or an excavation, so you only pay for the work the pipe needs.
It works the other way, too. Sometimes footage shows a drain is in better shape than feared, and the answer is a clean rather than a repair.
Comparing quotes fairly
Two survey quotes can cover very different amounts of work. Before choosing, check the following.
Which runs are included
The whole system, or only the run with the known problem?
Clearing
Is clearing a blockage included if the camera cannot get through?
What you receive
Footage, a written report, or simply a verbal explanation on the day?
Next steps
Will the findings be explained so you can get repair quotes from anyone, not just the surveyor?
Getting the most from the visit
Find your chamber covers beforehand and clear anything sitting on top of them. Make a note of which sinks, toilets or gullies have been playing up and for how long. If you have old survey footage or drain plans, have them ready. All of this makes the visit quicker and the findings more useful.
Safety note: chamber covers can be heavy and the openings deep. If you lift one to check it, keep children and pets well away and never put the cover back loosely.
Ready to book?
Our CCTV drain surveys page explains how we carry out a survey, and buyers should read about our pre-purchase drain survey. If a smell is behind your enquiry, our guide to drain smells may help you narrow it down first. When you are ready, send us your details for a quote.
Frequently asked questions
Why will you not give an exact survey price over the phone?
Because the size of the job depends on how many runs there are and how easy the chambers are to reach. We can give a guide once we know a little about the property.
Is a written report always needed?
No. Many homeowners are happy with the footage and an explanation. Reports are most useful for buyers, insurers, landlords and builders.
Does the survey price include fixing the problem?
No. The survey identifies what is wrong. Any repair is quoted separately once the findings are known.
Can I get a survey if I cannot find a chamber?
Often, yes. We can sometimes go in through a gully or rodding point, or help locate a buried chamber.