Those who are naturally handy and handle DIY at home themselves might think a drain survey is within their abilities. However, this isn’t the case. A CCTV drain survey is more than just an investigation of your kitchen pipes, and even the best do-it-yourself plumbers out there end up stumped when faced with an entire underground drainage system.
Let’s talk about what is needed to conduct a survey, what could go wrong, and why trusting the professionals is the best solution.
What is needed for a CCTV drain survey?
A CCTV drainage survey requires more than a quick glance or an attempt to muddle through. Here is what you’d need to perform a CCTV survey on your drainage network yourself.
Equipment
First, you would need the right equipment. Push rods for smaller pipes, crawlers for larger pipes, and specialised, high-resolution, waterproof cameras with lighting are just the start. You’d then need the right kit for reviewing the footage and, depending on the reason for the survey, professional software to log and report the survey’s footage and results.
Knowledge
Expertise is incredibly important for both conducting a survey and analysing its results. Performing the survey without causing damage to the pipes or equipment takes experience and know-how, and understanding the footage and producing a CCTV drain survey report requires training that can only be found in our profession.
Drain access and permission
While not necessarily an issue on residential properties, you will often need access to the drainage system to perform a survey, as well as permission to access. Permission is also important if you and your neighbours share an element of the drain network.
Pros and cons of conducting a drain survey yourself
Theoretically, is not impossible to conduct a DIY CCTV survey of your drains, if you have all of the equipment and the know-how, but in the vast majority of cases the drawbacks outweigh the advantages.
Pro: You pay less than you would for a professional service
Hiring professionals to conduct the survey will cost more than purchasing your own equipment and doing it yourself.
Pro: You can conduct the survey on your time
When surveying your drains yourself, you can do it whenever works best for you, no matter the time or day. This is beneficial to anyone with a busy schedule or those who don’t want to wait.
Con: You could seriously damage your pipes or drainage system
Without the training on how to use equipment and navigate drain pipes, you are at risk of causing damage with a DIY drain survey. Being too forceful could result in cracked materials or burst pipes, not knowing how to navigate existing issues could lead to worsening the problem, and cheap or mishandled equipment could break off in the pipes and create a permanent obstruction.
Con: You could waste money on equipment
Industry-leading CCTV drain surveying equipment is expensive. If you have purchased a secondhand kit or cheaper alternatives, there is a good chance they won’t do the job properly, resulting in wasted money.
Con: You might not understand the results of your survey
Even if you complete the survey successfully, it’s not definite that you’ll understand what you’re looking at in the CCTV footage. It isn’t guaranteed that you’ll be able to properly identify blockages, damage, or problem areas, or what to do next with that information.
Con: You may still need to turn to professionals afterwards
If the equipment fails or you’re not able to get the evidence you needed, you may need to pay for a professional after all, making the money, effort, and time you’ve spent a waste.
Benefits of choosing a professional drain surveyor
By relying on a professional CCTV survey team, you are guaranteed several benefits that make the investment worth it.
1. Money well spent
Although the costs are higher when hiring professionals, you can rest assured that the money is well spent, thanks to highly accurate results, no damage to the drains, and next steps informed by experienced workers.
2. Industry-leading equipment
Professionals come with the best technology and equipment available for CCTV drain inspection work. From robust and high-resolution cameras to the kit necessary to properly review live footage and diagnose blockages or defects, professional drain inspectors such as ourselves bring the best tools for the job and the training to use them.
3. No risks
By relying on a professional team to survey your drain system, you’re receiving a risk-free service. Our expertise means we know exactly how to conduct the preparation and survey without causing any new issues or exacerbating existing problems. In the incredibly rare circumstance that a surveying team causes a problem, the fault will lie entirely with them, and they will strive to resolve the matter as quickly and pain-free as possible. Problems caused by a DIY drain survey will unfortunately be entirely on the individual at fault to fix.
4. Guaranteed accurate results
Thanks to their skill and experience, professionals will deliver clear and accurate results for every CCTV inspection of drains they perform, so you can feel confident in the report you receive at the end of the job.
5. Informed next steps
Professionals can look at your drain survey results with an experienced eye and tell you what should come next. Whether you want to identify a suspected problem or are buying a new property and want a drain inspection before you purchase, they can advise on the next steps you should take based on the results.
Choose Premier Drainage Solutions for your CCTV drain survey work
While we admire the drive it takes to tackle things yourself, when it comes to tasks such as these, it’s best to leave it to the professionals. Expert CCTV drain surveys mean accurate results, helping you to make well-informed decisions regarding next steps. Our teams bring industry-leading equipment and the training on how to use it, ensuring a smooth, stress-free service delivery with no risk of damage or money wasted.
We operate across the whole of East Anglia, London, and the Southeast of England, offering services beyond CCTV drain surveys, including drain mapping, sewer connections, and build over and diversion agreements. With our experience and strong connections with local water authorities, we can also handle permit applications and answer any of your questions with ease.
If you need a CCTV drain survey or one of our other specialist services, don’t hesitate to get in touch.
