CCTV drain survey for sewage problems tips, Property drainage advice

CCTV Drain Survey for Sewage Problems Advice

16 December 2022

Drains are tricky. The problem is most of a sewer or drainage system is under the ground, so you can’t see what’s going on if a problem does arise.

And a drain can become blocked for many reasons. It might be a tree root that’s come through and blocked the pipe, or other debris that’s built up over time. But when a blockage occurs, especially if it’s deep in the pipe it can be hard to find. Getting it looked at as soon as possible will stop worse damage and potential flooding.

But how do you look at something underground?

You use CCTV.

Sewage Problems? Consider a CCTV Drain Survey

CCTV drain surveys are designed specifically to help with this problem. And not just when you have a problem, but they’re useful with ongoing maintenance too.

Drain CCTV surveys mean having a specially designed drain camera fed down the drain. Live footage is sent back to a screen where the engineer can inspect the type and location of any problems.

Checking for Sewer Problems and Fixing Them

A CCTV drain survey is useful as it can show you the current condition of your existing drains. The cause of blockages can be identified, and a sewer engineer can fix the issue.

Often drains are jet cleaned first too, which helps produce the best image quality for when the CCTV cameras are put down the drain or sewer.

So, if you think there’s a problem with your drain, a CCTV survey is probably the easiest and fastest way to get to the bottom of the problem.

It’s a great solution if you’re buying a property and you want to check the status of the drains when you move in too.

A quick check early on could save you time and money further down the line.

Other Uses for CCTV Surveys

If you’re building an extension you might need to know where your current drains are. In this way a CCTV survey can identify the location of your existing drains, so no damage occurs when you’re digging the foundations.

Power Jetting to Clean Your Sewer Systems

High pressure water is jetted along the drain cleaning and clearing anything that stands in its way. Done by a qualified engineer, power jetting cleans your drains and can remove stubborn blockages.

The pressurised water comes from a special pump that creates a force of water powerful enough to break down any blockages slowly, so no damage occurs to the inside of the drain.

Regular drain and sewer cleaning can also be used to maintain drains. Jetting at regular intervals helps keep them free from obstructions and washes any debris away before it has the chance to become a problem further down the line.

Tree Roots

Thanks to the water, oxygen and ‘nutrients’ in your sewers, tree roots are drawn to your pipes. A small crack, or out of place joint will cause the moisture to leak from the pipe, acting like a magnet for nearby tree roots that are always hungry for these things.

Eventually the tree roots will grow through the cracks, as they follow the source of food.

Roots will continue to grow, in extreme cases the tree roots will fill the entire pipe, blocking your pipe completely or at least slowing down your waste flow. In the worst cases the roots will cause the pipes to collapse.

The last option when it comes to roots growing through pipes is to dig out around the drain and fix it this way. It’s highly invasive and so prevention is much better.

An engineer will try to replace the liner of the drain to seal the crack, but if this isn’t possible then digging out the drain might be the only option.

High powered water jetting can break down roots, or chemicals can be sent along the pipe that dissolve the roots (the residue can prevent further root ingress too). Mechanical cutting tools can also be inserted down the pipe to clear any roots.

Tree root problems can be fixed, but it’s always better to deal with issues when they first appear, rather than fix the problems later down the line.

Final Thoughts

As with all drainage issues, it’s better to prevent future problems than have the expense and inconvenience of fixing them once the blockage or damage has occurred.

A CCTV survey can help identify issues, and regular jetting can help prevent problems before they occur.

Comments on this guide to CCTV drain survey for sewage problems article are welcome.

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Rowanbank Gardens, Corstorphine

Rowanbank Gardens Edinburgh Housing

West Town Vision

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West Town Edinburgh Property Vision

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