Time passes as surely as night follows day. Drains, like everything else, age over time and things can get worse. A drain is obviously designed to go underground, clearly not easy to see inside it, and the only way to really see what is actually going on inside is to use CCTV. Deterioration of the drain can come from lots of different sources. Ground movement, root intrusions and poor construction can cause massive problems
Clearly the fact that a drain runs underground means that you cannot see what is going on inside it. You really do need to know what is going on inside the drain or you could end up solving the wrong problem. Knowing as opposed to guessing means that you get the best possible chance of the best and cheapest solution to your drainage problem
Once these problems arise, it is vital to know exactly where they are and what you are dealing with. There are two types of camera systems that can be used , the Push Rod and the Crawler System. These two systems are different but do effectively the same job. The technical differences of the two systems should not bother you- leave this to the professionals
The crawler system is used for drainage pipes over 150mm in diameter. Smaller drainage systems (less than 150mm) are diagnosed using the push rod system. Full, detailed reports are then compiled to show exactly what is wrong with the drain so you can then decide what is the best method of solving the drainage problem
The problems to look out for can stem from collapsed pipes , sumps in the line to tree roots etc, all of which can cause blockages. All surveys are written up and assessed on site then burned onto DVD and handed over to the customer with recommendations to fix the problems. If you want a CD or .mp3 as well then that will not be a problem, most companies will not do this for you though- check them out thoroughly
If you are planning to build and extension to a property, CCTV can be used for a build over survey. Basically, this is a survey of the drainage condition underground so that you can see the condition before building over them. If you bury a problem, it will be much more expensive in the future should problems arise in the future
About the writer: Mr. Davidson owns a Cardiff drain company. If you are considering a house extension, consider a Cardiff drain cleaning CCTV report