4 CCTV Drain Survey Providers in the UK Compared

Drains can become blocked again month after month, raising the question: what’s going on down there?

Using a CCTV drain survey will allow you to see accessible sections of underground pipework, usually with no need for excavation. This will allow you to see roots, broken joints, cracks etc.

You will receive footage of the area inspected, what has been found and recommended next steps, where included.

Smart Drain UK is the recommended provider if you want to see footage, a report of what has been found, and how to remedy the issue. 

In This Guide

• Quick Provider Comparison
• Smart Drain UK: Best All-Round for Documented Findings
• Happy Drains: Best for Interactive Survey Reports
• Dyno-Rod: Best for Investigating Persistent Blockages
• Metro Rod: Best for Commercial Drainage Management
• What to Check Before Booking a CCTV Drain Survey
• Final Verdict

Quick Provider Comparison

1. Smart Drain UK: Best All-Round for Documented Findings

Why Smart Drain UK Recommended : If you’re having drainage issues and want to know why, or just want information about your drains’ condition, they can provide both.

Based in Rugby, they cover the whole UK, using their knowledge to find access points; they will insert a camera down the pipe and watch the screen to see if there are any issues.

Having a professional drain survey done can allow you to see why a certain drain is acting up. There could be a reason for it that you cannot see, for instance if there is a root that has got into the pipe after a cracked pipe further down the line.

Depending on camera access, you may be able to see:

• Cracked pipes, broken pipes, open joints.
• Blocked drains caused by root build up, fat, etc.
• Visible signs of faulty pipework installation.
• Visible defects that may help inform further investigation into escaping water or ground movement.

They will supply you with a video and report showing faults found in the sections inspected. Their survey allows you to know the depth, location and extent of any issues they come across, allowing you to get a contractor to come and fix it.

Whether you’re buying a property and want to check the condition of the drains, or you’re a landlord dealing with slow drainage, they will help you figure it out. Also if you’re building, or have built over something, they can inspect for damage too.

They also provide you with repairs if your drains are broken, so they can handle the issue from start to finish.

Some recent reviews on Trustpilot state that they have found them very helpful and that they helped resolve their drainage problems. Many have stated that the engineers were professional and informed them of the issues they found, giving them an idea of what needs fixing.

Smart Drain UK is the starting recommendation for documented investigation and next-step planning.

2. Happy Drains: Best for Interactive Survey Reports

Happy Drains offer a good CCTV survey if you’re buying a house, or think your pipe work may be faulty.

They cover house purchases, pipe issues, build overs and more, they provide you with video, report, plan, etc, through their Drainify system, which you can view online.

If you’re buying a house, or have a project, you can share their video and findings with the appropriate person, this may include, but is not limited to, your solicitor, insurance, builder, etc.

Happy Drains provide this service across the UK, at a fixed price for standard domestic surveys, if they need to do more work, they will let you know and provide you with a quote.

3. Dyno-Rod: Best for Investigating Persistent Blockages

Dyno-Rod offers a CCTV drain survey, along with clearing and repairing your drains around the UK. Their website states that they have CCTV on their vans and can use it to see what is causing your issues, including roots and broken pipes.

How does this help? Well if your drain keeps getting blocked, and they clear it, but the cause is still there, they can show you the underlying fault and recommend clearance, repair or further investigation.

Dyno-Rod has many engineers across the UK, so if your drain is blocked, you can book an engineer online.

4. Metro Rod: Best for Commercial Drainage Management

If you’re running multiple businesses that require drainage care, Metro Rod may be for you.

They offer CCTV drain surveys, clearing, maintenance and drainage plans. They will provide you with video, report, images and recommendations on any faults found. They also offer a pre-purchase service for houses.

Metro Rod can provide a wide range of services, which may be handy if you’re building or managing a large facility that suffers from bad drains. You may even have multiple properties that you need to keep track of, their records could help with that.

They advertise that they have iTouch camera systems, you should look into what they can offer you and what areas they will cover.

Because Metro Rod offers many services, the job at hand will determine the price and coverage, so they could be a good company to compare against.

What to Check Before Booking a CCTV Drain Survey

You need to know what you’re looking for, if it’s a blocked drain, it will need to be surveyed differently than a purchase, or building, so be aware of this.

Here are some things you should ask when looking to get a CCTV drain survey.

• What drains will you want inspected? Know what runs you would like to see, chambers and inaccessible areas if there are any.
• What will you receive? You should know if your price will include a report, pictures, video footage and a drainage plan.
• Will they show any defects? You should ask how they will pinpoint where a defect is, such as cracks, roots, broken joints etc.
• Do I need to clear any blockages? If you have a blocked drain you may need this cleared; ask the engineer attending, find out how this will be carried out and at what cost.
• Who do you need this information for? Speak to your solicitor, insurance company, surveyor or professional who needs the survey report and see if they require any specific type of report.

When purchasing a house, a surveyor following the RICS home survey guidelines may visually inspect accessible drainage chambers under Level 2, but that does not include a camera inspection of underground pipework. This is where a CCTV survey comes in handy.

Remember, you can only see what the camera can see, you may still need to repair, or clear, your drain, so factor that in when getting your price.

Final Verdict

If you want to get the best out of your CCTV drain survey, it’s all about what you want the survey to tell you. Metro Rod is good for managed drainage schemes, Dyno-Rod if you’re suffering with blockages on a regular basis and Happy Drains if you want an interactive digital record. 

Smart Drain UK would be the best call to make if you want your main residence inspected or are looking into buying a property. They offer camera footage as well as a report with any faults found and advice on what to do next. This can help you get a better understanding of what may be going on under your property.