CCTV Drain Surveys for Homes and Businesses

A CCTV drain survey sends a waterproof camera down your pipework so you can see exactly what is wrong underground, on screen, without digging. Anytime Drain Solutions runs surveys for homeowners, buyers, landlords and businesses across Dorset, Hampshire and Wiltshire, and you get the footage and a plain-English report afterwards. We tell you the price before we start, and the survey is a free no-obligation quote away.

Booked most often for a drain that keeps blocking, a pre-purchase check before you complete, or an insurer who wants proof of the fault. We answer the phone 24/7 and cover Bournemouth, Southampton and Salisbury through to the smaller towns in between.

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Book your CCTV drain survey

0330 043 4305

Fast help for blocked drains, flooding or any urgent drainage issue.

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South England

Local engineers covering Dorset, Hampshire, Wiltshire and nearby areas.

  • Rated 5 Stars on Google Reviews
  • City & Guilds engineers
  • Fully insured
  • Same-day and 24/7 callouts
  • Free no-obligation quote

When Do You Need a CCTV Drain Survey?

You need a survey when clearing the drain has not been enough, or when you need proof of what is going on underground before you spend money. The camera settles it: it shows whether you are dealing with a one-off blockage, root ingress through a cracked joint, a displaced or collapsed section, scale build-up or a bad fall in the pipe. Here is when people across the region book one with us:

Recurring blocked drains that keep coming back

Slow drainage in sinks, toilets, gullies, or outside drains

Foul smells coming from the drainage system

Gurgling sounds or signs of restricted flow

Water backing up or pooling around external drains

Suspected cracked, displaced, or collapsed pipework

A property purchase, so you find drain faults before you complete, not after

An insurance claim or a new-build sign-off that needs filmed evidence of the drain

If the same drain keeps blocking, a survey is cheaper than guessing. It tells us whether to cut roots out, repair a section or just clear it, so you pay for the right job once.

What happens on the day of your survey

A survey takes one visit. We turn up, find the access, run the camera through the line, and sit down with you to explain what the footage shows before we leave.

Anytime Drain Solutions engineers locating drain access before a CCTV survey


1. We find the access and lift the cover

You tell us what the drain has been doing and when. We lift the nearest inspection chamber or use an internal access point, so the camera starts in the right place rather than guessing where the fault sits.

CCTV drain survey camera being fed into a drain line by Anytime Drain Solutions

2. We run the camera through the line
The crawler camera tracks the full run and reads its own depth and distance as it goes. So when it finds a cracked joint, roots or a collapse, we know how far along the pipe it sits and how deep, which matters if it turns into a repair.

CCTV drain survey footage on screen showing the condition inside a drain

3. You see the footage and get the report

We play back what the camera found and tell you in plain terms whether it is serious or not. You get the recording and a written report with the location of any defect, so you can hand it to a surveyor, an insurer or whoever does the repair.

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The kinds of survey we get called out for

Not every survey is booked for the same reason, and that changes how we approach it. A buyer wants the whole system filmed and reported; an insurer wants one defect proven. Here are the jobs we are called out for most.

Pre-purchase and homebuyer surveys. Buying a place? Drains are not in a standard homebuyer report, and a collapsed run can cost thousands to put right. We film the lot and tell you the condition before you exchange, so a fault becomes the seller’s problem to price in, not yours to discover later.

Finding the fault before anyone digs. Guesswork means digging in the wrong spot. The survey pins down exactly where the damage sits and how deep, so a repair or no-dig lining job goes straight to the problem instead of opening up your garden to find it.

Condition checks for landlords and commercial sites. If you manage flats, a pub kitchen or a parade of shops, a survey gives you a dated record of drain condition. It is the evidence behind a maintenance plan and it settles who pays when a shared drain blocks.

Sign-off surveys after the work is done. After we have cleared a blockage, cut roots or lined a section, a quick re-survey proves the line is sound and runs properly. Handy for new-build sign-off and for anyone who wants it on record that the drain is sorted.

Why people trust our survey footage

A camera is only as useful as the person reading it. Our City and Guilds qualified engineers run surveys every week, so when the footage shows a hairline crack versus a failed joint versus a collapse, you get a straight answer on whether it needs fixing now or watching. We are rated 5 stars on Google, fully insured, and any lining or repair we then carry out is backed by a 10-year guarantee.

  • Rated 5 stars on Google Reviews
  • Footage and a written report you can keep and pass on
  • City and Guilds qualified, fully insured engineers
  • Domestic and commercial drainage surveyed across three counties
  • Free no-obligation quote, with the price agreed before we start
  • Phone answered 24/7, including nights and bank holidays
  • 10-year guarantee on any lining or repair work we carry out

What the camera actually shows you

A survey is not just a video of a dirty pipe. The camera reads its own depth and how far it has travelled, so every fault it finds is logged to a precise point in the run. That is the difference between knowing roughly where the trouble is and knowing the seller, the insurer or the engineer can be pointed straight at it. On screen you will typically see:

Cracks and fracturesHairline cracks that weep, through to splits letting silt and roots in.
Root ingressFine roots feeding through an open joint, the usual cause of a drain that reblocks.
Displaced or open jointsSections that have shifted as the ground moved, catching debris on the lip.
Collapses and deformationA pipe that has caved or gone oval, often the reason for repeat flooding.
Scale and grease build-upNarrowing in older or kitchen runs that throttles the flow over time.
Standing water and poor fallWhere the pipe was laid too flat, so it never fully clears and keeps silting.

What does a CCTV drain survey cost?

We quote the survey before we run the camera, so you approve the figure first and nothing lands on the invoice you have not agreed. What the survey costs comes down to a few things:

  • How much pipe we are filming, a single suspect run is quicker than mapping a whole property for a purchase.
  • Whether the chambers lift cleanly, or the run has to be jetted first so the camera can actually see.
  • The kind of report you need, a verbal walkthrough on the day, or a written report with footage for a buyer or insurer.
  • Access, a back-garden chamber a few steps from the van is simpler than a shared run under a block of flats.

A standard domestic survey is usually a single short visit. If the camera then finds a fault, we quote any repair or lining separately and show you the footage that justifies it, so you are never paying for work you cannot see the reason for.

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What you get once the survey is done

The point of a survey is the evidence you walk away with, not just a clear drain. By the time we leave you have what you need to make a decision or hand to someone else:

The recorded footageThe camera run itself, so the fault is on file rather than just described.
A written reportPlain-English notes on what we found and whether it needs action now.
The location of any defectHow far along and how deep, so a repair goes straight to it.
A clear recommendationWhether to clear, repair, line or simply leave it, with no upsell.

What we do once the camera finds the cause

The survey tells you what is wrong. Fixing it is the next call, and it is usually one of these four, matched to whatever the footage showed.

Drain rods and an open chamber at an evening blocked drain call-out

Drain Clearing & Unblocking

If the camera shows the line is sound and just blocked, we jet or rod it clear and recheck the flow before we leave.

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Anytime Drain Solutions engineer with a large root mass cut out of a blocked drain

Root Removal

Roots feeding through a joint on screen? We cut and grind them back, flush the line, and tell you whether the joint itself needs sealing to keep them from creeping back in.

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Broken drain pipe uncovered in a narrow excavation beside a property

Drain Repairs

For a cracked, displaced or collapsed section, we fix the exact length the survey located, backed by our 10-year guarantee.

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Lining equipment connected to a broken drain run for a no-dig patch repair

Drain Lining & Patching

Where the pipe is intact enough, we cure a resin liner inside it, so the fault is sealed without digging up your drive.

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Where we carry out drain surveys

The survey van travels to wherever the drain is, and most of our camera work sits within about an hour of Bournemouth. Across Dorset we film drains in Bournemouth, Poole, Christchurch, Weymouth and Dorchester, with the rest of Dorset covered too. The pre-purchase survey is busiest here, where a lot of older clay drains hide behind a tidy garden. Into Hampshire we survey across Southampton, Totton, Portsmouth, Havant, Waterlooville and Lymington, and right across Hampshire. North into Wiltshire we cover Salisbury, Warminster and Chippenham, and the wider Wiltshire area. Not sure you are in our patch? Call 0330 043 4305 and we will tell you straight away.

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CCTV Drain Survey FAQs

When should I book a CCTV drain survey?
A CCTV drain survey is usually the right step when drains keep blocking, the cause is unclear, bad smells keep returning, or there are signs of hidden damage. It is also commonly used before buying a property or before planning repairs.
What does a CCTV drain survey actually show?
It shows the inside of the pipework so we can identify what is causing the problem. That may include cracks, displaced joints, root ingress, collapsed sections, scale build-up, poor connections, or stubborn blockages that cannot be diagnosed properly from the surface.
Is a CCTV drain survey disruptive?
No. In most cases, the survey is carried out through existing access points, so there is no need for digging just to inspect the drain. We keep disruption to a minimum and explain clearly if anything more is needed after the survey.
How long does a CCTV drain survey take?
That depends on the size of the property, the layout of the drainage system, and the reason for the inspection. Many standard domestic surveys are completed within one visit, and we explain the expected scope before starting.
What do I receive after the survey?
We explain what we found, what it means, and what the next step should be. Where required, we can also provide supporting footage, images, and reporting to help you understand the condition of the drain and any recommended remedial work.
Is this suitable for a homebuyer drain survey?
Yes. A CCTV drain survey is often used by homebuyers who want to identify hidden drainage defects before completing a purchase. It can help highlight structural issues, root ingress, recurring blockage risks, and likely repair needs that may not be visible during a standard property viewing.
How much does a CCTV drain survey cost?
The cost depends on the type of property, the complexity of the system, and the scope of the inspection. We confirm pricing clearly up front, so you know what is included before any work is carried out.
Do I need to be at the property during the survey?
It is helpful, but not always essential if access has been arranged in advance. We can explain the findings afterwards and talk you through the results clearly, along with any recommended next steps.
Can you find the exact location of a drain defect?
Yes, where needed we can trace the affected section and help identify where the defect sits within the drainage run. This is useful when planning repairs, lining, excavation, or follow-up drainage work.
Can you help if the survey finds a problem?
Yes. If the survey shows a blockage, root ingress, damaged pipework, or another drainage fault, we can advise on the most suitable next step. That may include drain clearing, root removal, lining, patching, or repair work depending on the condition of the system.
Anytime Drain Solutions CCTV survey unit at a manhole with the branded van behind
The camera reads its own depth and distance, so any fault is logged to the exact spot in the run.

Contact Us

Need Help with a Drain Survey?

Want to know what is going on under your drains before you spend a penny on repairs? Call Anytime Drain Solutions and we will book you in. We survey for homes, buyers, landlords and businesses across Dorset, Hampshire and Wiltshire, and you walk away with the footage and a report.

0330 043 4305
anytime.drain.solutions@gmail.com

Free no-obligation quote, fully insured engineers, and a 10-year guarantee on lining and repairs.

Get your free no-obligation quote or call 0330 043 4305

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Certified & Fully Insured Drain Specialists

Our drain engineers are trained to recognised industry standards through City & Guilds and the Water Jetting Association (WJA), and we are fully insured for drain unblocking, repairs, jetting, and CCTV survey work.

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Need help with blocked drains?
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