What is a Drain CCTV Survey?

Answer........CCTV drains surveys involve passing a small CCTV camera through your drains system to identify any issues which are hidden from sight above ground. CCTV surveys of drains, pipes, and sewers provide an accurate, visual and cost effective way to detect any drains problems, see the source of the problem and help to establish the most economical repair options. Inspecting your drains simply involves lifting manhole covers and running water through the drain runs from the taps within your property, you should then observing the water flows throughout the drainage system. This can be accomplished by any capable DIY practitioner with care , look after your back and toes when opening a drain cover and ensure that nothing falls in including small children. Q. What are the benefits of CCTV Surveys A. A CCTV Survey can be carried out with little fuss and disruption but they quickly establish the facts. A CCTV survey involves sending a camera down the your sewer or drain and making a video recording of the results. A CCTV survey will not determine that a drain is watertight or leaking, but it will show and locate areas of damage or blockage. Reviewing the CCTV survey the drainage engineer can precisely pinpoint the problem area without the need for expensive excavations. At this point a repair plan can be established and whilst a hole might need to be dug it will be at the exact location of the problem thereby minimising subsequent costs and disruption.

Is the householder responsible for the drains?

Answer........YES Householders and businesses are responsible for their own private drainage systems up to the connection point with the main sewer, that can be out under the tarmac in the middle of the public road.

Are the Council responsible for clearing my drains?

Answer........NO The council is no longer responsible for the maintenance of the public sewerage network, is the direct responsibility of the local water company, usually  United Utilities in England and Welsh Water for Wales.

What is Water Jetting?

Answer........With state of the art water jetting ordinary water is propelled under varying amounts of pressure into the drain and this can completely clear the drain or sewer of obstructions. Once this process is completed it is an opportune time to investigate the internal construction of the drain, to ascertain if there is any design reason why deposits are building up, or see if the drain has suffered some earlier damage which is the cause of the problem. Once the blockage is removed, the sewer line can then be examined with a CCTV survey to determine where roots are entering the pipe or walls have degenerated and what preventative and restorative maintenance is required.

Can I claim from my insurance company ?

Answer........There are no hard and fast rules on this, as it is subject to the type of policy cover, the insurance company policy, type of drainage system damage etc.

What is the most effective way to clear the drainage pipe?

Answer........The most effective way to clear the drainage pipes and inspection chambers of these deposits is high pressure water jetting. The high-pressure water spray acts like a sharp knife and cuts the grease off the walls of the pipe. The water used in the process itself creates a high water flow which will flush the sediments down the line.

What is a Section 24 sewer ?

Answer........A section 24 sewer is defined as a public sewer if the drain in question is shared with more than 2 households that were constructed before 1937. In theory this makes the local water company responsible for the maintenance of these drains, but the water companies usually put the onus on the house owners to prove that it is not their own responsibility. A detailed CCTV survey and connectivity report that I can provide will identify and outline the responsibilities and a resolution clearly for all parties.

What causes blocked drains ?

Answer........There are many reasons for drains to block up, the most common ones are material flushed down the toilet (nappies, toys, toilet fresheners’ etc)rotten leaves, clogged up interceptor traps, wear & tear,  earth movement , ground heave, structural defects, collapses, debris & silt build up, tree root damage, heavy vehicle movement above the drain/sewer.

How to Prevent Blockages?

Answer........Regularly remove any hairs that get trapped in the waste plug hole.
Keep small objects such as combs, medicine bottles and toilet rolls away from places where they could accidentally fall into the toilet.
Regularly flush the wash basin and bath or shower pipe work with hot water and a disinfectant to clear soap residue and prevent build up over time.
Don’t flush away large and disposable items such as sanitary towels, nappies or product wrapping as they can become caught in the drainage pipe.
Do not dispose of waste food scraps and cuttings down the kitchen sink. These are much better composted. If any items do fall into the sink pull the vegetable material out of the plug hole, do not try to poke through as you could impact the blockage making it harder to remove.
Never dispose of cooking fats down the drain system. As they hit cold water they will solidify. If there is absolutely no alternative you should dilute and emulsify the fats by mixing them with hot water and of detergent. Keep the water running for a minute after you have done this to keep a clear water flow.
For complete peace of mind, particularly if you are running a business you can request a regular drain surveys and get your drainage system checked regularly by a CCTV drain inspection service. This will give early warning of any potential blockages and also enables you to keep an eye on the structural condition of the drainage pipe work.  

I’m buying a house, should I have a homebuyers drain survey ?

Answer........YES. Definitely. If you are buying a new build In theory you should not need one as it is covered by the 10 year NHBC guarantee, but even then It is still recommended. If it is not a new build certainly yes 

Can your homebuyers survey report save money & hassle ?

Answer........YES. It is also required by Banks/Building Societies when granting a Mortgage

What equipment do I need to clear a blockage in a private sewer?

Answer........If a blockage does occur, then having something to hand to deal with it may save you time, money and inconvenience. A medium-sized hand plunger should cope with most blocked sinks. You should also have a spanner of the correct size to remove the trap underneath the sink. A set of drain rods should be sufficient to clear most blocked private sewers. If a blocked private sewer cannot be cleared by your use of the drain rods, then you will probably need the services of a sewer cleansing specialist.