CCTV DRAIN SURVEY | BIRMIMGHAM

Drainage CCTV Surveys & Inspections | Birmingham

If you’re experiencing drainage issues that are leading to blockages and foul smells, then it’s essential the problem is identified, and the issue is resolved. Due to the complex network with the drainage system it’s often difficult to locate the source of the problem, that’s why Smart Drain UK provide CCTV Surveys in Birmingham.

We work with both Birmingham bases businesses / home owners and service both industrial and commercial properties such as the Bull Ring and properties located within Birmingham business park. If problems such as blockages aren’t identified quickly they can often escalate and a simple issue can soon cause waste product to build up and over flow which can cause substantial damage to your property.

When you book an appointment with Smart Drain UK one of our experienced drainage engineers will conduct an on-site visit to assess the problem and by using our state of the art drain CCTV surveying equipment, by identifying the root cause of the issue they can then decide on the best course of action and advise you on the next steps needed to resolve the problem.

Common Drainage Issues Our CCTV Surveys Identify

If left unchecked your drains can cause serious issues to your property which include:

Subsidence

Rodent Infestation

Foul smells

Blocked toilets and blocked sinks

Standing water

Overflowing manholes

Drainage or sewage problems can cause a variety of property issues, both large and small. Broken, blocked or cracked drains or sewers can potentially cause serious structural problems and if left un treated can eventually lead to subsidence, however, by conducting a CCTV drain survey we can identify any issues and deal with them before you have any serious concerns.

Over time, pipes and joint deteriorate due to age and use. In particularly older properties such as Victorian homes, drains were originally made from clay and can often be over 100 years old!

These drains can develop cracks and become porous which can easily lead to issues such blocked toilets and sinks. However, if you have iron pipes, these can corrode easily over time and can cause waste product to stick against the rough inner lining which if left over time can build up to cause major drain blockage.

During the ’60s, properties were often fitted with pitch fibre pipes which again will deteriorate over time and become blistered or collapse. Therefore, it is a good idea to check the type of pipes you have within your home and be prepared to replace them, if you’re unaware of the type of pipes your property is fitted with, our drain CCTV survey can easily identify the material they’re constructed from and asses the current health of your pipes.

If drainage pipes are cracked or broken, this could be an indication of movement in the ground as well as tree roots which can grow through piping and eventually put stress on them leading to damage. If tree roots have breached your drains, then we can often use a mechanical rotary system to cut away the roots and flush the debris through the pipes with our high-powered drain jetting system.

Clay Drain Pipe

Fibre Pitch Drain Pipe

Cast Iron Drain Pipe

Book a CCTV Drainage Survey In Birmingham Today

Ultimately, by keeping on top of blocked drains and sewers, you can help to avoid much more serious structural problems or ground movement which can lead to subsidence. By completing a full CCTV survey of your property, we can quickly identify any issues and quickly fix them before they ever become a problem.

Once our inspection has been completed our engineers will leave you with a full written report which outline the current health of your drain and any recommendations moving forwards. To book in for a CCTV Survey contact us today and a member of our team will be happy to book you in for an appointment.

Book CCTV Survey

Purchasing A Property within Birmingham? Then ensure your drainage system is free from damage with a full CCTV Survey.

Homebuyer’s Survey – Buying a home is likely to be the single biggest financial decision in your life, the last thing you need is a myriad of underlying drainage issues that have come to haunt you through bad planning. For example, drain damage in homes is often caused by old age and tree roots from out the home, which creates blockages and causes water to leak into the surrounding soil. If this issue is not rectified, it can lead to further problems involving drain collapse and subsidence.

Vendor: On the other hand, if you are selling your property, you won’t want to be delayed by damaged drains being discovered during your purchaser survey. If your drainage issues aren’t fixed, you may be forced to sell your property at a lower price or you may be forced to repair these defects at your cost will little notice. In the worst case, the purchaser may even withdraw their offer.

Purchaser: You require the peace of mind that your dream home is not going to reveal any unexpected problems. The last thing you need is having to fork out money to repair damaged drains when you have already pushed yourself financially. In modern times and with general tightening of insurance policy schedules, it’s not often that your insurance company will pick up the tab in a new home if your drainage issue an inherited problem, especially in the absence of a survey. In fact, a drain survey is something that mortgage lenders, surveyors and home insurance companies insist on for properties over a certain age or value.

Build over survey: Build over surveys are carried out before and after building work. Are you planning an extension? If you are looking for an extension or conservatory on your existing property, the local water authority is going to insist that you carry out a CCTV survey if you are building over or near their assets. This ensures that: – There are no defects on the drains that will be concealed by the extension.
– That any defects are identified and repaired prior to or during building works.
– That building works do not cause any damage to the asset short or long term.

Large diameter surveys: Smart Drain UK has a wide variety of the latest CCTV camera units, and we survey larger drainers using crawler units which can provide a panoramic view of the drain condition. Surveys are carried out to the latest 5th edition of the WRC Manual of Sewer Condition and Classification, which is the industry standard.

What is a CCTV drain survey?

Simply put, a drain survey is an in-depth inspection of your drainage system, using high-tech CCTV cameras which are inserted into your drains. These drainage cameras send a live-feed back to us, letting your drainage engineer get a good view into your drains so they can identify any issues that might be present.

Why and when would I need a survey?

CCTV surveys are an indispensable tool in a number of situations. For example, a pre purchase drain survey can be arranged before you purchase a new home. The survey will generate a precise review of the current condition of the property’s drainage system, and will provide an overview of any necessary repairs in the future.

The survey provides buyers the opportunity to make a fully-informed decision before they sign any contracts.

Homeowners or tenants may also need a CCTV survey when they face one-off or ongoing drainage issues. A survey can find the root cause of a problem, so they’re essential if you’re experiencing drain troubles but have no idea why.

What equipment is used?

When you arrange for a CCTV drain survey, a technician will come to your property with a range of tools and equipment ready to use during the survey.

Here are some details about some of the equipment used:

Waterproof cameras: These state-of-the-art cameras must operate under flowing water and in tight spaces. They provide engineers with a clear view into your drains, including areas that would otherwise be impossible to see.
Access rods: These are highly flexible, and are used to push the cameras along your drainage system, helping them to navigate tight turns and corners.
Crawlers: Remote-operated crawlers are used to provide quick visual access to sewer systems, providing excellent mobility even in obstructed pipes.
Sonar units: Sonar surveys are reserved for filled pipes, providing acoustic profiling to gain insight into the condition of the pipe where visual access is impeded.

What will a survey find?

Now you know what a survey is, what’s involved and what the process is, it’s time to answer the final question: what does it cover? The short answer is, just about any drainage issue you could possibly have.

Drain surveys are designed to deliver an extensive, thorough review of your drainage system. They can help to identify major and minor issues alike. From structural damage to fatbergs, whatever the problem with your drains a CCTV survey should be able to identify and locate it. A CCTV drain survey can help to identify:

Collapsed drains
Tree root ingress
Blockages
Causes and extent of leaks/bursts in pipes
Corrosion and wear and tear
Animal intrusion
Evidence of displacement or poor installation

A drain survey has many advantages, but perhaps the most important is that it allows you to respond to existing issues and plan ahead to prevent future ones. In the long term, this helps to save you money – and frustration.