CCTV drainage surveys and septic tank inspections
What a CCTV drainage survey and a septic tank inspection check, what they find, and what each costs.
Key takeaways
- A CCTV drainage survey shows why your septic tank, soakaway or sewage treatment plant has stopped working properly.
- The survey finds the cause of the problem and gives recommendations on how to fix it.
- Most pre-purchase building surveys only take a basic look at drainage and advise calling a specialist.
- New owners who skip a drainage survey can find the system damaged beyond repair and face thousands in costs.
- If you are buying a property with off-mains drainage, get the drainage system surveyed before you buy.
Need a CCTV drainage survey? Does your septic tank need an inspection?
In order to offer a greater range of services to our customers, we are pleased to announce that our team are now able to undertake CCTV drainage surveys.
A CCTV drainage survey is crucial in understanding exactly why you might be experiencing septic tank problems, soakaway problems or sewage treatment plant problems.
Our experienced team are able to fully investigate the cause of any issues you might be having, giving you detailed recommendations as to how to resolve any problems.
A CCTV drainage survey sends a camera through the system to find exactly what is causing a septic tank, soakaway or treatment plant problem. It is just as useful before you buy a property, so a hidden fault doesn't become your problem after completion.
But don’t just wait until there is a problem!
Surveys are not only important when there is a septic tank problem evident. If you are buying a property with a septic tank, sewage treatment plant or soakaway, it is vital that you get a pre-purchase survey of the drainage system undertaken.
When drainage systems are no longer functioning properly, it can be hugely costly to repair or replace them. We are often contacted by customers who have only recently purchased a property, only to find that the drainage system in place is damaged beyond repair. Most pre-purchase building surveys will take only a very basic look at drainage systems, and will often advise the purchaser to contact a specialist to undertake a thorough investigation. Ignoring this advice can prove very costly, and can leave the new owner left facing thousands of pounds in costs.
Don’t leave something so important to chance. UKDP will undertake a thorough survey and assessment of the history of the drainage system in place, providing you with a thorough overview of the condition of the system and any problems that might exist within it, including any issues with compliance with legislation. But that’s not all. If damage exists, we are often able to help the seller with an insurance claim, ensuring that any works required are covered by their buildings insurer. This often means that the sale can continue without issue.
Call our expert team today on 0800 028 9903 to arrange a septic tank inspection, or to find out more about how we can help.
For an off-mains property, a dedicated septic tank survey covers the tank and its outlet in full.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a drainage survey or septic tank inspection cost?
A CCTV drainage survey is around £300 plus VAT, depending on property size. A septic tank or treatment plant inspection is £399 including VAT. For a house purchase, a home buyer survey is £399 standard or £699 for the Plus version, which covers larger homes and adds full CCTV footage.
How long does a survey take?
A septic tank inspection takes two to three hours on site. You'll get a full written report with photographs within a few working days, so you have something to act on or share with a buyer.
What's the difference between a CCTV drainage survey and a septic tank inspection?
A CCTV survey runs a camera through the drains and pipework to find defects, which suits on-mains properties. A septic tank inspection goes further for off-mains systems: the tank is emptied, surveyed inside with a camera, the outlet and soakaway are checked, and a dye test looks for rainwater wrongly connected in. Which you need depends on your drainage.
Does the tank need emptying before a survey?
For an off-mains survey, yes. The tank is emptied on the same day so the engineer can inspect the structure, and that's a separate cost of roughly £250 on top of the survey. We can arrange the emptying to line up with the visit.
Will I get a copy of the report and footage?
Yes. Every survey comes with a written report and photographs, and we can provide the CCTV footage and internal video on request. The home buyer Plus survey includes a WinCan report and footage as standard.
About the author
Sam Warren
UKDP co-founder
Sam Warren co-founded UKDP with James Warren in 2009 as an off-mains drainage specialist.
Need help with your septic tank or drainage?
Reach out to us on 0800 028 9903. Our team are here to talk Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm.
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