When you buy a house, you probably check the roof, the windows and the electrics. Yet every property also has a network of pipes underground, and they are easy to miss. A CCTV drain survey can show problems that a standard home survey may not cover.
What Is a CCTV Drain Survey?
A CCTV drain survey uses a small waterproof camera. The engineer feeds it into the drain and guides it along the pipe. It records footage of the pipe walls, so problems show up without digging.
A camera also keeps people out of the drain. Scottish building standards guidance notes that health and safety law allows manual entry to a drain or sewer only where no alternative exists.
Why Standard Home Surveys May Miss Drains
Drains sit underground and out of sight. A surveyor looks at the parts of a property that they can see and reach. For this reason, a standard survey may not cover the drains, so ask your surveyor exactly what the report includes.
Common Problems Found in Drain Surveys
Tree Root Ingress
Tree roots search for water, and drains hold plenty of it. Roots can work their way into pipe joints and cracks. Over time they may cause a blockage, or even a collapse, so homes with large mature trees nearby face more risk.
Collapsed or Broken Pipes
Older pipes made of clay or pitch fibre can wear out. A camera can find cracks, breaks and sections that have collapsed. These often need digging up and replacing, although some can be relined.
Displaced Joints
Ground movement, traffic or poor fitting can push pipe joints apart. When joints separate, waste water can leak into the soil. Left alone, this may lead to ground problems around the pipe.
Incorrect Connections
Some properties have drains linked the wrong way. For example, a rainwater pipe may join a foul drain. A survey can flag this, and you can then ask the seller or the council how to put it right.
Fat and Debris Buildup
Even with no damage, heavy buildup inside a pipe can cause trouble. It is better to know about this before you move in. A jetting visit can often clear it.
Who Owns the Drain?
Before you buy, find out which pipes will be yours. The homeowner is responsible for the private drain from the home to the property boundary. A drain that leaves the property boundary, or joins drains from another property's separate curtilage, becomes a public sewer.
In a block of flats, shared drains inside the same boundary stay private. Ask your solicitor to confirm the position for the home you want to buy. A survey report then gives you a clear picture of the pipe itself.
The Cost of Not Surveying
Drain repair costs vary a great deal, because they depend on what is wrong. A simple blockage costs far less than a collapsed pipe that needs digging. The length and depth of the pipe, the ground and whether no-dig relining suits the job all change the price.
A survey before you buy shows you what you are taking on, rather than an unwelcome surprise after you move in. If you want a repair price, ask the engineer for a written quote before work starts. You can Request a Quote online to start.
Using Survey Results in Negotiations
If the survey finds problems, you have options:
- Negotiate a lower price to cover repair costs
- Ask the seller to fix the drains before you complete
- Walk away if the damage is too serious
- Go ahead with full knowledge and budget for repairs
Footage and a written report help here, because the seller can see the problem for themselves. Ask your solicitor how to raise it before you complete.
What to Look for in a Survey Provider
Ask what the engineer will give you before you book:
- Camera footage you can keep
- A clear written report
- A plain-English explanation of any issues
- Recommendations for any repair work
- A written quote for any repair, before work starts
You can read about pre-purchase drain surveys and find CCTV drain surveys in Glasgow. The same service is on offer for CCTV drain surveys in Paisley, and you can read about the wider Glasgow area.
If a survey finds damage, drain repairs may follow. These include pipe relining and drain excavation. For a property in South Lanarkshire, see drain repairs in East Kilbride.
To get started, read about the CCTV drain survey service and get in touch online.
Related Guides
Read what a CCTV drain survey costs before you book one.