When you’re buying a house, you check the roof, the boiler and the windows, but what about the drains? They’re not exactly glamorous, which is probably why they get overlooked. But in many cases, home buyers absolutely should consider a CCTV drain survey.
Standard property surveys don’t usually include a detailed look
If there’s a cracked pipe, root intrusion or a partial collapse lurking beneath the garden, it might not be picked up. And repairs to underground drains in the UK can run into the thousands, especially if digging is involved. A CCTV drain survey uses a small camera to inspect the inside of the pipes. It shows blockages, damage, poor previous repairs and even misaligned joints. It’s quick, relatively non-invasive and gives you a proper report to work from. A CCTV drain survey Northampton is useful and you can get in touch with professionals such as https://www.wilkinson-env.co.uk/drainage-services-cctv-surveys-midlands/cctv-drain-surveys/northampton/.
Free CCTV drain checks were carried out last year to help Bedford homeowners avoid costly surprises.
It’s particularly worth thinking about if the property is older
There may also be large trees near your house. You may have noticed slow-draining sinks or bad smells. In some cases, the survey might reveal nothing more than minor build-up, which is reassuring in itself. In others, it could give you grounds to renegotiate the price before you commit. It’s not always essential for every purchase of course, but if you want fewer nasty surprises after you move in, a CCTV drain survey can be a smart bit of due diligence.