CCTV pipeline inspection

Drains stay out of sight until they fail. When a toilet keeps backing up, a smell lingers in the garden or a manhole overflows after heavy winter rain, it is tempting to guess at the cause and start digging. A CCTV pipeline inspection takes the guesswork away. A waterproof camera on a flexible push rod or a small crawler travels through the pipe, sending live video to a monitor so the professional can see the condition of the drain from the inside.

The footage shows what the problem is, where it is and how far along the pipe it sits. That means repairs can be targeted, and decisions about your property can be based on evidence rather than assumptions.

What a camera inspection covers

• Blockage diagnosis: identifying grease, scale, wipes, debris or root intrusion behind recurring blockages.
• Structural condition: spotting cracks, displaced joints, sags, deformation or collapse in the pipe.
• Location and depth: many systems include a locator, so the camera head can be traced from above and the fault position marked.
• Post-cleaning checks: confirming a drain is fully clear after jetting or mechanical cleaning.
• Recorded footage: video and notes you can keep for your records or share with other trades, where the professional offers it.

When an inspection makes sense

Recurring blockages. If the same drain blocks every few months, something is catching debris. A camera reveals whether it is a root, a lip at a joint or a dip where waste settles.

Buying a property. Older houses and villas, particularly those with long runs to a septic tank or soakaway, can hide expensive drainage faults. A survey before buying gives you facts to negotiate with.

Before renovating. If you are relaying a patio, building an extension or adding a bathroom, knowing the route and condition of existing drains helps you avoid damaging them or building over a weak pipe.

Unexplained smells or damp. A cracked waste pipe under a floor can leak and smell long before the damage shows. The camera helps pin it down.

How to prepare

Locate manholes, rodding points and inspection chambers and make sure their covers can be lifted. Move plant pots or furniture standing on them. If the drain is currently blocked, say so in your job, because the pipe usually needs clearing before the camera can pass. Ask the professional whether they will provide recorded footage and a summary of findings.

What affects the cost

Pipe length and diameter, the number of access points, whether cleaning is needed first, the type of camera and locating equipment, and whether you want a recorded summary all influence the price. Posting your job with photos of the manholes and a description of the problem helps professionals quote accurately.

Booking on FixNow

1. Post a free job explaining the problem and the type of property.
2. Receive offers from local professionals whose ID and profiles have been checked and approved.
3. Compare offers and reviews, ask questions in chat and accept one.
4. Pay securely; the payment is released once you confirm the inspection is complete.

Stop guessing about what lies underground. Post your job on FixNow and get a clear view inside your drains.