Murky footage and a reset distance counter leave the repair boundary unresolved. What a CCTV drain survey should show before relining is a traceable journey from a known access point, through the complete fault and the route needed for the equipment.
Start from an access point the owner can find again
The recording starts at an access point the owner can find again and keeps the direction and distance clear. It follows the route far enough for the lining technician to return to the fault.
Watch for changes in material, diameter and direction. The survey records side connections and continues beyond the obvious defect where access allows, because the damage can extend past the first symptom.
Pipe condition, measurements, branches and blind spots
- A clean image of each crack, joint or damaged surface.
- Sound pipe before and after the proposed repair.
- Bends, deformation and changes in bore.
- Branches and connections within the working section.
- Roots, scale or protrusions requiring preparation.
- Any point where the view or camera travel ends.
Four questions the survey must answer
What is damaged?
The visible fault must be distinguished from loose material or a temporary obstruction.
Where is it?
The report ties the position to a known access point at the property.
Can lining equipment reach it?
The route needs enough clearance and workable geometry for preparation and installation.
What crosses it?
Every relevant junction needs to be located and considered in the repair.
When cleaning changes what the camera can show
Roots, scale and standing water can hide the wall that would support a liner. Remove the obstruction and revisit the concealed area; the revealed condition may change the repair length or rule lining out.
If the footage does not identify the chamber, defect position or lining limits, include the video and report together so those gaps can be explained.
A survey record that can be compared later
Still images and continuous footage. Still images can show individual defects but not the route between them. Continuous footage provides the context.
After cleaning, the camera should return to any wall previously hidden by water, roots or deposits. That view is the one used to judge the proposed repair.
Completion CCTV should use the same chamber and distance references as the starting survey. That makes the repaired section, liner ends and relevant connections directly comparable with the original evidence.
Watch the footage as a route, not a collection of still images. Deposits, standing water or an abrupt stop can leave decisive areas unseen. Those gaps should be cleaned and inspected again, not filled with a confident repair recommendation. Use the survey glossary for unfamiliar report terms.