How much does a drain survey cost? A Picture of a drain survey being completed.

How Much Does a Drain Survey Cost?

Cost of a Drain Survey

A drain survey, commonly referred to as a CCTV drain survey or drain inspection survey is a professional inspection of the pipes in a house or commercial building to make sure everything is working fine. It's like a health check-up for your drainage system. Now, when it comes to the cost of a drain survey, there will be variations in price depending on a few factors.

Unlike most blogs, we’ve actually stated some indicative prices to give you an idea, but keep reading, we’ll get there quickly.

Range of Drain Survey Costs

It’s not worth telling you an "average cost" because a 1 bedroom bungalow and a 5-storey office block are completely incomparable and would skew the figures. So, lets be a bit more sensible with some cost ranges depending on property size:

Houses up to 3 bedrooms = £150 - £250 + VAT

Houses with 4-6 bedrooms = £250 - £450 + VAT

Mansions (well done you!) = £450 - £600 + VAT

Commercial properties = This is where it gets a bit dangerous giving a price range because a small run of drains in a modest commercial property could cost less than £500. However, we’ve quoted and worked on projects for new housing estates, central town building demolitions and everything in between. If you have a commercial building drain survey requirement, please contact our team and we’ll provide a bespoke quote once we’ve visited site or reviewed pictures/site plans.

How much does a drain survey cost?

Notes

For clarity, most of our work is in Hertfordshire, Essex, North London and Cambridgeshire. Regional pricing will vary across the UK. Plus, if you have drain blockages then an extra drain power jetting fee may also be required to clear your drains either pre or post inspection.

Reasons for Drain Survey Cost Variations

There are several reasons why the price of a drain survey can vary:

Location: If the pipes are easily accessible and there's enough space around them, the survey will be quicker and less challenging for professionals. But if the pipes are hidden under concrete, gardens, or other obstructions, it takes more effort and time to access them, and that can increase the cost.

Size of the Property: The larger the property, the more pipes there might be to inspect. A bigger property means more work for the surveyors, which will lead to a higher price.

Complexity of the Drainage System: If a property has a complicated drainage system with many bends, turns, or multiple levels, it requires more effort to inspect thoroughly, which can affect the cost. Older properties tend to have more complicated drainage systems, especially in older cities and towns.

Equipment Used: Some companies like us use advanced technology and equipment for drain surveys, like CCTV cameras or specialised tools. This equipment costs an absolute fortune to purchase and maintain! You also need an experienced, trained engineer to operate the equipment and analyse/fix the issues. The costs associated with drainage are much higher than most people might think.

Additional Services: Some, but not all drain survey companies offer additional services, like providing a detailed report, fixing minor issues, or providing videos of the inspections. We do all of this if required, but these extra services will impact the total price.

Getting a Good Deal

To make sure you get the best deal for your drain survey, it's a good idea to get quotes from different companies and compare what each one includes in their service. Consider the location and complexity of your drainage system to understand the variations in pricing. This way, you can make an informed decision and ensure your drainage work is done properly without breaking the bank.

We aren’t the cheapest and we aren’t the most expensive, but if you’ve read this far then you now understand that we know our stuff when it comes to drainage. You can also check out our customer reviews on Google and take a look at our work on Linkedin and Facebook.