A drainage investigation uses a CCTV camera to find the cause of a problem that keeps coming back. Unlike a routine drain survey, it's targeted: your engineer looks at your exact symptoms and traces the fault to its source. This helps with repeat blockages, damp patches you can't explain, ongoing bad smells, or slow drains that don't clear with normal unblocking. Your engineer uses push-rod and crawler cameras with tilting heads, giving a clear view inside the pipes. This lets them check joints, connections, and hard-to-reach spots closely. The check maps your drains, finds faults, and gives clear proof of what's causing the problem. You get a written report with footage, marked-up photos, and clear next steps. This proof also helps with insurance claims, disputes with neighbours over shared drains, and planning applications that touch existing drain routes.
We start by getting the full picture, since knowing which fixtures are affected, when it happens, and what's already been tried tells us where to focus.
We trace the drain from the affected spot outward, filming every pipe section and joint, until we find the fault causing the problem.
Once we find the cause, whether roots, a collapsed section, a moved joint, or a design fault, we record it clearly with marked-up footage and photos.
You get a detailed report explaining the problem, where it is, and the fix options ranked by cost. Since you may want to move quickly, we can give repair quotes right away.
The cost of a targeted drainage check depends on how your drains are laid out, and how long it takes to find the fault. Request a fast, fixed-price quote online. We confirm the price before we start, and there's no call-out fee.
A standard survey gives a general check of your whole drainage system, while an investigation is problem-focused, working from your symptoms to trace one specific fault. It may cover the whole system or just the affected part, depending on what's needed.
Yes, since our push-rod cameras can reach pipes running under extensions, conservatories, and other buildings through existing manholes and access points. If there's no access point nearby, we can talk through options for a temporary one.
Yes, since our reports include timestamped footage, marked-up photos, and a clear condition assessment that home insurers accept. We write them to a standard that also works for disputes and legal cases.