How Long Does A Drain Survey Take?
A drain survey is an effective way to map out existing drainage systems or to locate major blockages or recurring minor problems. For prospective homeowners, drain surveys that are carried out before a purchase can identify current issues within the system or potential issues that might arise in the future, thereby saving the buyer from expensive fixes after they buy their new property.
The team at OMDI are experts at carrying out a wide variety of drain surveys, including essential pre-purchase ‘home buyers surveys’. Drain surveys carried out by professionals can be undertaken in a short space of time, ensuring accurate results and as minimal disruption as possible.
In this article, we explain how long a drain survey should take, and why it’s so important for your home or property.
What Types of Drain Survey Are There?
There are several types of drain survey available to property owners and prospective buyers. However, there are two main types of drain survey most commonly required by homeowners.
These are:
- CCTV drain surveys
- Home buyers surveys
CCTV drain surveys are designed to locate and uncover major blockages within a drainage system. CCTV drain surveys are commonly required at short notice, for example in emergencies. Home buyers surveys are intended to be carried out before the purchase of a home or property, with the intention of ‘mapping out’ the drain system and locating any existing or potential issues.
Both of these surveys have their own applications and uses, and each takes different lengths of time to complete. Let’s take a look at CCTV drain surveys and home buyers surveys to see which type of drain survey might be most appropriate for your needs.
CCTV Drain Surveys
CCTV drain surveys are often needed when a property is experiencing major blockages in its drains or has recurring problems with the drainage system that have been difficult to locate.
They employ CCTV technology (as the name suggests) to locate blockages, breakages or damage within drains. CCTV technology uses small cameras that are moved through the drainage system. This allows drain surveyors to access areas of the network that would ordinarily be entirely closed off or hidden from sight.
Many persistent blockages are often found deep in the piping. Without CCTV equipment, it would be impossible to physically locate their position and remove them from the drains. With the help of camera technology, surveyors can quickly locate problems, broadcasting the footage back to the surface where it can be assessed, and from where the best solution can then be implemented.
How Long Does a CCTV Drain Survey Take?
CCTV drain surveys are surprisingly quick and efficient. Blocked drains can often be located within 45 minutes of the surveyors setting up their equipment, as it’s likely that they will already have a rough idea of where in the system the problem might lie, and where they need to target their initial efforts.
CCTV surveys are surprisingly cost-effective, given the ever-decreasing price of the technology that’s needed for the operation. They save significant time and resources too, as surveyors no longer need to manually locate blockages by excavating pipes or climbing down into drains.
Home Buyers Survey
Home buyers surveys should always be carried out by anyone making a property purchase. These drain surveys provide buyers with a detailed map of the drainage system, but most importantly they let a prospective buyer know if there are any existing problems.
Drains can be expensive to fix, so a pre-purchase survey allows a buyer to know what they are getting themselves into, thus avoiding any unexpected costs or repairs after they’ve made the purchase. In most cases, a pre-purchase survey also allows the buyer to ask the existing owner to fix the problems before the sale is made.
Home buyers surveys are carried out by a drain survey professional who inspects all the piping and drains on a property. This includes septic tanks and sewage treatment plants, alongside traditional connections to sewer systems. Any blockages can be found and the surveyor can help to identify the potential for future problems or the need for repairs.
The surveyor then builds a detailed map of the existing system, which identifies the drains and pipes the homeowner would be responsible for. This is important in the event of blockages or disputes, as many drains are shared between multiple houses. Some drains are serviced by the local water provider, while others need to be privately repaired or unblocked if problems arise. A detailed drain survey helps to avoid any disputes, as it’s clear who is responsible for what.
Current homeowners can also benefit from a home drain survey, particularly if they are experiencing blockages or disputes arising from the local drainage system.
How Long Does a Home Buyers Survey Take?
A home buyers survey is much more extensive than a quick CCTV survey, and it can take several hours to complete accurately. The exact length of the survey depends on the size of the property and the complexity of the drainage system.
For example, a two-bedroom house with one bathroom will be surveyed much quicker than a five-bedroom house with multiple bathrooms. On average, a home buyers survey takes a minimum of two hours to complete thoroughly. This would be the time to survey a small house.
Contact OMDI Today for Your Free Quote
OMDI has years of experience carrying out drain surveys of both commercial and residential properties.
Our dedicated professionals are able to provide you with a thorough inspection of existing drain systems including which areas of the network you are directly responsible for, which are shared and which are public. Drain surveys are essential if you experience blockages or are considering purchasing a new property. So don’t delay, get in contact with our professional team today. Our team is just a phone call or email away, so get in touch to find out more about our drain survey services. Contact OMDI today for your free quote.
