A CCTV drain inspection is exactly what it sounds like: a purpose-built waterproof camera, mounted on a flexible push rod, travels through your drain while the operator watches live footage.
During the inspection, the operator can see and record:
- Cracks, fractures and broken sections of pipe
- Tree root intrusion and where it is entering
- Displaced or open joints
- Grease, scale and debris build-up
- Bellied (sagging) sections where water pools
- Illegal or poorly made connections
Most professional camera systems include a sonde — a small transmitter in the camera head. A locator wand above ground picks up its signal, pinpointing the exact position and depth of any fault found. That means if a repair is needed, the excavation or reline can be planned precisely instead of digging exploratory holes.
An inspection is most valuable straight after a blockage has been cleared (to find what caused it), before buying a property, before major landscaping or building over drains, and after any repair to verify the work.
The result should always include recorded footage and a clear explanation of what was found, so you can make decisions — and compare quotes — based on evidence rather than descriptions.