Wondering what's actually happening inside your drains? Whether you're dealing with recurring blockages, buying a property, or simply want peace of mind about your drainage system, a CCTV drain survey gives you the complete picture, quite literally.
At Plumbers 365, our drainage experts use the latest high-definition drain camera inspection technology to explore every inch of your drainage system. It's like giving your drains a full health check, revealing problems you can't see from the surface and helping you make informed decisions about repairs and maintenance.
Think of it as an internal inspection for your drains. Plumbers 365 drainage experts will insert a specially designed waterproof camera attached to a flexible cable into your drainage system. This camera travels through your pipes, sending back real-time HD footage to our engineer's monitor.
As the camera moves through your drains, we can see:
All footage is recorded, and you'll receive a comprehensive report with our findings and recommendations from our team for further consideration and decision.
A pre-purchase drain survey can save you thousands. Many Bournemouth homes, particularly older properties, have drainage issues that aren't obvious during a standard house survey. Discovering collapsed drains, root damage, or poorly installed systems before you buy gives you negotiating power or helps you avoid a costly mistake altogether.
If you're repeatedly dealing with blockages, slow drainage, or bad smells, a CCTV survey identifies the root cause. Maybe tree roots are infiltrating your pipes, or perhaps there's a section that's collapsed and creating a trap for debris. Once we know exactly what's wrong, we can fix it properly rather than just treating symptoms.
Before you start any construction work, you need to know where your drains are and what condition they're in. A CCTV survey maps your drainage system and ensures you don't accidentally build over or damage existing pipes. Due to coastal weather influence, our drainage experts always advise to go for a survey before planning any renovations.
Being able to show potential buyers a recent drain survey report demonstrates that your property is well-maintained and gives them confidence. It can speed up sales and potentially support your asking price. Plumbers 365 drainage experts are quite adept at conducting surveys for both buyers as well as sellers.
If you're making a claim for drainage damage, insurance companies often require a CCTV survey to verify the problem and its cause. Our detailed reports provide the evidence which is crucial for decision-making when it comes to insurers.
For commercial properties or landlords with older buildings, regular CCTV surveys can catch small problems before they become expensive emergencies. It's much cheaper to repair a small crack than to deal with a collapsed drain.
When you contact us, we'll discuss what you need and why. This helps us tailor the survey to your specific concerns, whether it’s a full system inspection or focusing on a particular problem area.
Plumbers 365 drainage engineer arrives with all necessary equipment in our fully equipped van. We'll explain exactly what we're going to do and answer any questions you have.
We insert the camera through the most appropriate access point (usually an external manhole or drain access point). The camera travels through your drainage system, and we can show you the live feed if you're interested in seeing what's happening below ground.
Modern drain cameras have powerful LED lights and can navigate bends and junctions, giving us a comprehensive view of your entire system. Our equipment can survey drains from 50mm to 300mm in diameter.
We record the entire inspection and make detailed notes about any issues, their locations, and severity. The footage is time-stamped and includes distance measurements from the access point.
Within 48 hours (usually sooner), you'll receive a detailed report including:
Focused inspection for property purchases. Plumbers 365 drainage experts will survey the main drainage runs and provide a clear report on the system's condition, highlighting any concerns that might affect your purchase decision.
Comprehensive inspection of your entire drainage system, including all branch lines, connections, and inspection chambers. Ideal for older properties, recurring problems, or before major renovations.
Detailed surveys for business properties, including restaurants, shops, and office buildings. We understand commercial drainage systems and provide reports suitable for landlords, facilities managers, and compliance requirements.
After drainage repairs or relining work, a follow-up CCTV survey confirms the work has been completed to standard and the issue is fully resolved.
Required when you're planning to build over or near existing drains. Plumbers 365 drainage experts will map the system and assess whether it can remain in place or needs to be diverted.
Bournemouth's diverse property stock, from Victorian and Edwardian homes in areas like Boscombe to 1930s suburbs and modern developments are known to have issues, each presenting its own unique drainage challenges:
Many Bournemouth homes built before the 1960s have clay or pitch fibre drainage pipes. These materials can deteriorate over time, and tree roots easily penetrate them. CCTV surveys on older properties frequently reveal issues that owners had no idea existed.
Bournemouth's coastal location means properties can be affected by ground movement, high water tables, and drainage systems stressed by heavy rainfall. Regular surveys help identify problems before they become serious.
The beautiful tree-lined streets that make Bournemouth attractive also pose drainage risks. Root intrusion is common, and a CCTV survey shows exactly where roots are affecting your pipes.
Great news! You'll have peace of mind and a report confirming your drainage system is in good condition. This is particularly valuable when selling a property or for your own records.
If we find small problems, like early-stage root intrusion or minor cracks then our drainage experts will recommend preventive measures which can prevent expensive repairs later if addressed now.
For serious issues like collapsed drains or major root damage, we'll provide a clear explanation of:
Our report and recommendations come with no obligation. You can use our findings to get multiple quotes, claim on insurance, negotiate property prices, or schedule repairs when it suits you.
These indicative prices include the inspection and comprehensive written report. There are no hidden fees. However, the exact price depends on several factors such as the level of inspection and number of drains to be assessed.
We also offer CCTV surveys as part of drain unblocking or repair packages, which can reduce the overall cost if you're having work done at the same time.
Most residential surveys take 1-2 hours, depending on the size and complexity of your drainage system. We'll give you an estimated timeframe when booking. You don't need to be present for the entire survey, though many customers find it interesting to watch some of the live footage.
Usually not. We typically access drains through external manholes or inspection chambers. Occasionally, if we need to survey drains from an internal access point (like under a sink), we'll discuss this with you beforehand.
Sometimes we can continue a full survey despite a blockage, but often blockages can prevent the camera from passing through. In these cases, we'll clear the blockage first, then conduct the survey to identify why it blocked and check for any underlying damage.
Some properties don't have obvious drain access points. Our engineers are experienced at locating drains and, if necessary, we can create an access point or use alternative entry methods.
Absolutely. While we provide technical details for insurance or building purposes, we also explain findings in plain English. If anything is unclear, we're always happy to talk you through the report and answer questions.
Yes, it's included. We usually provide footage on USB or via a secure download link. It remains your property, and you can share it with builders, insurers, solicitors, or anyone else who needs to see it.
Yes, we regularly conduct CCTV surveys for restaurants, retail premises, offices, and other commercial properties. We understand commercial drainage systems and can work around your business hours to minimise disruption.
We'll explain the issue clearly and provide options for addressing it. There's no obligation to use our services for repairs – you're free to get multiple quotes. However, many customers appreciate having one trusted company handle everything.
For most residential properties, a survey when buying and then only if problems arise is sufficient. For older properties (pre-1970s) or those with large trees nearby, a survey every 5-10 years is sensible preventive maintenance. Commercial properties might benefit from annual surveys.
Whether you need a pre-purchase survey, want to investigate drainage problems, or simply want peace of mind about your system's condition, we're here to help.
Call us on 01202 355508 to discuss your needs and book your survey.
Or request a callback and we'll contact you at a convenient time to arrange everything.
