CCTV drain surveys in Exeter
If a drain keeps blocking, clearing it again only buys time. A CCTV survey puts a camera inside the pipe so a drainage engineer can see what is causing the problem and tell you what it will take to fix it.
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Tell us what's happening and we'll pass it to a local drainage engineer.
Thanks, we have your request. A local drainage engineer will be in touch as soon as possible. If waste water is backing up, stop using water in the house until it has been cleared.
Signs you need cCTV drain surveys
- The same drain has blocked more than once
- Water drains slowly even after it has been cleared
- A bad smell around a drain cover or inside the house
- Damp patches, subsidence or a sunken area near a drain run
- You're buying an older house and want to know the state of the drains
- Your insurer or a builder has asked for a drain report
What the job involves
In general, the engineer lifts the nearest inspection chamber and feeds a waterproof camera on a flexible rod along the pipe. The picture shows on a screen as it goes, so they can see cracks, displaced joints, roots, build-ups of fat or scale, and anything that has fallen in. Minor blockages are often cleared during the survey so the camera can get through.
Afterwards you can usually ask for the footage and a written report showing where each defect is and how far along the run. That is what an insurer, a buyer or a builder will want to see. If the survey finds damage, the engineer will explain the options, which can range from jetting and patch repairs to lining or digging out a section.
Local factors
Large parts of Exeter sit inside the city's 20 conservation areas. In general, older clay drains are prone to cracked joints and root ingress, and if a pipe does need digging up in a conservation area, it pays to know exactly where the fault is first so the excavation is as small as possible.
A survey also helps answer the question of who is responsible. Since 1 October 2011, lateral drains outside your boundary and sewers shared with neighbours that connect to the public network have been South West Water's responsibility. Footage that shows where the fault sits can save an argument about whose job it is.
What happens when you enquire
You fill in the form with your postcode and a few words about the problem. We pass it to one vetted, independent drainage engineer covering your area, who gets in touch as soon as possible to talk it through. They'll give you a price before any work starts, and there's no obligation to go ahead. The quote and any work are between you and the engineer.
Typical costs
| Job | Typical cost |
|---|---|
| Basic CCTV survey | around £90 |
| CCTV drain survey | £90–£350 |
| Full survey with drain mapping and report | £250–£350 |
Indicative UK price ranges published by MyJobQuote (updated November 2026). Your drainage engineer will quote after inspecting.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to unblock a drain in Exeter?
It depends on where the blockage is and how it's cleared. As a guide, MyJobQuote's published UK ranges are £50–£60 to unblock a toilet, £80–£145 for drain rodding and £70–£175 for drain jetting, with emergency call-outs at £100–£200. Your drainage engineer will give you a price after looking at the job.
Is the quote free?
Yes. Sending the form costs nothing, and the quote is free and without obligation. You decide whether to go ahead.
Is a blocked drain my responsibility or South West Water's?
In general, you're responsible for drains inside your property boundary. Since 1 October 2011, lateral drains outside the boundary and sewers shared with neighbours that connect to the public network have been South West Water's responsibility. If neighbours are blocked too, the problem may be in a shared sewer. A drainage engineer can usually tell you which it is.
Will my home insurance cover a blocked drain?
Some home insurance policies include accidental damage to drains or home emergency cover, and some don't. Check your policy before work starts. If your insurer wants evidence of damage, a CCTV survey report is usually what they'll ask for.
Will the drain need repairing or just clearing?
Most blockages only need clearing. If a drain keeps blocking, or the engineer suspects a crack, roots or a collapsed section, they may suggest a CCTV survey to find out before any repair is quoted.
When do I need a CCTV drain survey?
When a drain keeps blocking, when you suspect damage, when an insurer or builder asks for a report, or before buying an older property. The camera shows what's inside the pipe, so the fix can be planned properly.
I live in Topsham's conservation area. Does that affect drain work?
Clearing a drain is no different. If a drain needs digging up, though, work in a conservation area needs more care, so it helps to find the exact fault with a CCTV survey first. Mention it on the form if your home is listed.
Want to know what's going on inside your drain? Ask for a CCTV survey quote.