Whilst generally the preserve of large houses and businesses, everyone can benefit from having a CCTV survey done on their drains. A CCTV survey is a simple way to look at the condition of your drains, and is also an essential when planning new drains.
CCTV surveys are particularly useful when the cause of a drainage problem isn’t immediately obvious. Instead of using the services of a local plumber, you will need a drainage engineer who will find an access point into the drainage system, and will push the CCTV camera along the pipe. In larger pipes, the camera is mounted on a wheeled crawler unit, which is controlled above ground. The camera immediately relays images to a monitor in the engineer’s van, allowing them to see any problems. All blockages and structural defects are logged, along with their location in the pipe. A report is then provided, listing any problems and their location. Most companies will also provide a video or DVD showing the entire survey, along with a plan showing the location of the drain.
A CCTV survey can reveal a number of things, such as fractured pipes, collapsed drains and tree roots. It is important to deal with all these things promptly. Fractured pipes are usually caused by pressure from above, for example a heavy lorry driving over the ground. This can cause cracks and fractures in the pipes. If this is left untreated, the contents of the drain could leak into the soil, which will cause further damage to the pipe. In worst case scenarios, this can even lead to subsidence. A collapsed drain is often caused by drains being built badly, but can be caused by a number of other reasons. Again, if this is left blockages will occur and subsidence and damage to the environment are also real concerns.
Tree roots are another major cause of cracked drains. Roots seek out moisture, and of course a drain pipe is full of moisture! A root can find its way through an existing fault in a drain, and widen the cracks substantially. In addition, once tree roots have got into the drain, other material gets caught up in them meaning that blockages are far more likely to occur.
There are many other benefits to having a CCTV drain survey done. For instance, it can help to reduce bills. If the cause of the drainage problems isn’t immediately visible, the CCTV camera can help to find the exact problem quickly. This means that an engineer will immediately be able to see what is causing the blockage, and so will be able to get the work done faster – thus reducing the costs.
CCTV surveys are often only considered when an emergency occurs. But a CCTV survey is an extremely useful way of avoiding future problems. Having a survey done can help to spot issues before they become a serious problem. Normal wear and tear can see drains suffering damage from usage and from subsidence, tree roots or just poor construction. And, of course, the earlier these are spotted, the sooner they can be repaired and dealt with.
