CCTV Drain Surveys: What They Show, Why They Matter, and How They Save You Money

Wednesday, 8 October, 2025 | Gerry Rowe

When it comes to drains, unblocking is only half the story. The real question is: why did it block in the first place? That’s where a CCTV drain survey comes in.

At ASL Limited, we’ve been carrying out surveys across Surrey, Hampshire, Sussex, and Berkshire for over 50 years. Whether it’s for a house purchase, repeated blockages, or even insurance disputes, a survey gives you the full picture, and can save you thousands of pounds down the line.

📞 Call ASL today to book your CCTV drain survey.

When do you need a CCTV survey?

engineers conducting a house drain survey

The most common times we recommend one are:

🏠 House purchase surveys - this is vital. It can save you tens of thousands by spotting issues before you buy, or in preparation for the sale.
🚽 Repeated blockages - if your drain keeps blocking, we’ll do a free “look see” survey after unblocking, so you don’t waste money on repeat visits.
📑 Insurance disputes - a recorded video survey gives you the evidence you need if there’s a claim.

Costs at a glance:

Quick unblock + look-see survey: £99 inc. VAT.
Full CCTV survey: from £160 + VAT per hour (usually one hour, depends on property size).
House purchase survey: £320 + VAT (minimum two hours, includes full video recording, detailed report, and estimates if repairs are needed).

What is a CCTV drain survey?

Our engineers arrive with portable camera units that can be set up within 5-10 minutes. Once the inspection chamber is lifted, the camera is pushed up the drain, and the footage is displayed live on a screen above ground.

If the pipe is coated with fat and grease, we’ll first use a high-pressure jetting hose with a powerful reverse nozzle to clean the walls. Then we run the camera through again, giving a crystal-clear picture of the drain’s condition.

What customers see:

Real-time footage on screen.
Photos and video recordings.
A written report (for full surveys).

What does a survey reveal?

Most problems with old clay glazed pipes aren’t visible from the surface. A survey often finds:

Open joints
Subsided or collapsed pipes
Root ingress
Bad connections
Partially blocked interceptors
Wrong gradients (ponding shows up as a thin white line inside the pipe)

One customer was shocked to learn that what looked like a “simple blockage” was actually a collapsed pipe caused by leaking sewage undermining the ground. Without the survey, they would have faced ongoing problems and hidden subsidence.

Cost vs Value

Leaving problems undiagnosed is the real expense.

Take an interceptor (a common cause of blockages). If it blocks, water backs up the pipe all the way to the house. With open joints, sewage seeps into the soil, undermining the pipe. This leads to subsidence, collapsed drains, and far higher repair costs.

That’s why we include a free short survey after unblocking. We don’t want customers stuck in a cycle of repeat blockages and we certainly don’t want anyone thinking ASL is incompetent. Our aim is always to fix the root cause.

Why choose ASL?

ASL works differently:

We use sturdy, measured rods and CCTV equipment to confirm the cause.
We explain clearly what we see on screen.
We provide options, whether lining, replacement, or maintenance.
Our engineers are problem solvers with decades of experience, not just unblockers.

Local Service & Fast Reports

If you’re buying a property within 15 miles of Guildford, our advice is simple:

Always book a full CCTV house purchase survey.
If it’s a rural property, check whether it’s on mains drains or a private system.

Already having problems? Book a survey straight away. Our office staff will connect you directly with someone who understands drainage. With our well-stocked yard, maintained vans, and trained operators, we can usually attend quickly and deliver reports seamlessly.

Don’t wait for hidden problems to turn into expensive repairs. A CCTV drain survey is the easiest way to get peace of mind, protect your property, and save money.