by hannahDrain Survey Cost Guide
Drainage issues can cause significant problems for homeowners, tenants and business leaders, such as an inability to use vital facilities and poor hygiene.
Because drain pipes are beneath the ground, it can be impossible to identify the cause of your drain problems without a full CCTV drain survey to inspect the pipes and check for drain damage. These surveys are particularly important if you have a rat infestation but don’t know how they’re entering your property.
Rats often use drainage pipes as an entry point, gnawing through seals or even the metal pipework to gain access to your space. That’s why Pest In Peace provides drain surveys as part of our service offering throughout Wilmslow, Macclesfield, Stockport, Congleton, Cheshire and the surrounding area.
Over the years, we’ve become experts in drain surveys and have carried out work on many different properties, so we understand the issues you may have and can help identify drain defects that could be allowing rats to enter.
One of the key questions many homeowners ask is: how much does a CCTV drain survey cost? The answer isn’t simple, unfortunately. Every job is different, so the exact price will vary. To help you understand how we calculate your drain survey cost, keep reading.
What Is A CCTV Drain Survey?
A CCTV drain survey is an inspection of your drainage system using high-tech, waterproof CCTV cameras to detect issues such as blockages and rat entrance points.
The manhole cover is removed and the drain camera inserted into the inspection chamber and through the drain runs to identify damage such as tree root ingress, displaced joints and other problems that may allow rats to enter.
Once the drain technician has reviewed your system, they will provide a drain survey report outlining the issues and further steps that you can take to resolve them. This written report explains how the drain survey was carried out and what was found during the inspection.
Getting a drain survey can show you the exact location of the issue, and most providers, including Pest In Peace, can provide minor drain repairs and maintenance services, such as pressure washing to remove minor blockages.
Many homeowners get a drain survey to identify the cause of drainage issues. They may also choose to have one completed to identify rat access points. Rats live in public sewage systems and can find their way into private drains through damaged pipes, displaced joints and other drain problems.
Why Do You Need A Drain Survey?
Drain surveys can be used for a variety of reasons. At Pest In Peace, we primarily offer CCTV drain surveys to identify entry points for rats.
If you’re facing drain problems such as blocked drains, low water pressure or suspected leaks, then a CCTV drain camera inspection can help you identify the cause.
If you’re planning on buying a new home, then you could get a homebuyer drain survey, which is a written report on the state of the drains at a property you intend to purchase. This documentation can be used to reassure mortgage lenders and to help identify potential drainage issues before you make your purchase.
Whether it’s collapsed pipes or a blockage, a drain survey can find the issue and help drain experts provide an accurate quote for any repair work needed.
What Factors Influence Your CCTV Drain Survey Cost?
There are multiple factors that can lead to additional costs for your drain survey, so when you’re comparing quotes you need to consider all of these factors. You also need to look at the difference between service offerings of drain companies. If you’re getting a CCTV drain survey to identify rat access points, then working with a pest controller can be an ideal choice. These are the most common reasons you might have to pay a higher drain survey cost.
The Type Of Drain Survey You Choose
There are usually two types of CCTV drain surveys available. A basic CCTV drain survey will provide you with just an exploration of your drains and a simple report outlining the issues you’re facing, and won’t usually include the CCTV footage or other valuable information. It will just contain graded defects and a brief summary of recommendations.
For an extensive and thorough survey, as well as a full drain survey report, you need a full CCTV survey, sometimes known as a specialist drain survey. This includes camera footage from inside your drainage system and an in-depth inspection to check your drain pipes for any damage or issues. A comprehensive survey will take more time than the basic option, so you can expect to pay more for a full CCTV drain survey, but a more thorough review of your system can reduce the need for costly repairs in the future.
The Size Of Your Drainage System
A large or more complex drainage system will require more time to survey and might need more specialist equipment, such as larger cameras, or have separate runs for the water to flow through. The more complex your drain system and the more drain runs, the more time will be required to carry out your survey and produce your drainage report, meaning even a basic drain survey will cost more.
The Location Of Your Property
Properties in remote locations can incur a higher price for CCTV drain surveys, as it will take longer to get there. Labour costs are one of the key factors in determining your drain survey cost, so the longer an experienced drain surveyor and their equipment have to be en route to your property, the higher the cost might be.
The Type Of Property You Own
Most standard homes will have a small drainage system with an easy-to-reach access point. For flats, larger homes or commercial properties, access issues and complex drainage systems could increase the cost of your CCTV drain survey. The accessibility of the manholes and inspection chambers can affect the amount of labour and work required for your drain survey, so for large systems with lots of covers, the cost could be much higher than for a smaller, easily accessible system. Usually, the larger your property size, the more complex your drainage system, but terraced homes and flats may also have complicated systems.
Additional Drain Services Required
Costs for drain surveys can rise if you need additional services, such as power jetting or pipe replacement, following the results of your drain survey. If you find that you need a rat drain blocker installed or considerable rat control, then this can also raise the overall price you’ll pay for your drain services.
Can You Carry Out A DIY Drain Survey Yourself?
While a DIY survey might seem like a simple way to save some cash, it’s not that easy. A drain survey requires a waterproof camera with a monitor display to allow you to review the footage both live and record it for later.
This equipment is expensive, and if you don’t know how to use it and what to look for when reviewing the CCTV footage, then you won’t be able to make the most of it. Experienced drain survey providers like Pest In Peace can save you the hassle and hard work with our services.
Fixing drainage issues yourself isn’t always an option either. Even simple problems like minor drain blockages require knowledge so you can use your drainage rods properly to remove the issue. If the problem is bigger, then you could make it worse by poking around in your drains unnecessarily.
As such, it’s worth working with a drain expert like ourselves to ensure that you don’t cause further issues with your drainage system and potentially incur further costly repairs.
Who Pays For A CCTV Drain Survey?
In the UK, drains that are within your property boundary are the responsibility of the property owner. If you rent your home, then the landlord is responsible for covering the CCTV drain survey cost.
Drain pipes that leave your property and carry wastewater to the public sewer are known as lateral drains. If the problem extends to the lateral drains, then this is the responsibility of the sewerage company.
Home insurance doesn’t usually cover drain surveys in England, but if you have a specific drain policy then the repair work might be covered.
If you’re in doubt about who is responsible for covering the cost of your CCTV drain survey or the drain repairs, speak to your local authority and check your insurance coverage.
How Much Does A CCTV Drain Survey Cost? A Brief Conclusion
Overall, the cost of your drain survey will vary, but it typically starts from around £100 for a basic CCTV drain survey. The larger your property and the more complex your drainage system, the bigger the scope of the job and, therefore, the higher the price will be.
Also, if you require a more detailed CCTV drain survey report, then you may have to pay more. CCTV drainage surveys can save you a lot of time, money and hassle, so they’re definitely worth investing in.
As well as being an experienced pest control provider for homes and businesses throughout Cheshire, Pest In Peace are also your local drain experts. We’re able to provide thorough drain inspections to identify holes, chew marks and collapsed drains caused by rats, with honest pricing and clear report formats.
To find out how much your CCTV drain survey will cost, we’ll discuss your property size and other factors, then give you a clear quote with transparent pricing and no hidden costs, so you can make an informed decision.
Once we’ve worked out that rats are using your drains to enter your property, we can carry out professional rat control and basic drain repairs. For more complicated drain repairs, we can provide contact details of trusted drain engineers in Cheshire who we trust to carry out the work before we get rid of the rodents inside your property.
Our team can provide a quote online or a written quote on request to help you find the best price for your drain survey. We work with homes and commercial sites throughout Cheshire, and can provide expert advice on dealing with your rat problem and identifying drain issues that could have caused it.
If you’re based in Cheshire and experiencing poor drainage or need a CCTV drain survey to confirm if rats are using your drains to enter your property, contact us today on 07980 597423 to book your drain survey.