CCTV Drain Inspection Brisbane
A CCTV drain inspection puts a small waterproof camera down your pipe so you can see what's wrong. You watch the footage with us, we show you where the fault is and roughly how deep, and the inspection is priced separately from any repair.
What you see on the footage
The camera sits on a flexible rod that we push along the pipe. The picture comes up on a screen, so you can see the inside of your drain as it moves. Things the footage can show include:
- Cracks, breaks and open joints
- Tree roots getting in
- Fat, silt and other build-up
- Dips where water sits in the pipe
- Changes in pipe material along the run
Older homes can have original drains, replaced drains or a mix of materials. The actual pipe has to be checked before recommending a fix.
Signs you need it
- A drain that keeps blocking after clearing
- You are being told you need relining or digging and want to see why
- Wet patches or sinking ground in the yard
- You are planning to build near a pipe
- Buying an older home and want to know what is underground
Locating: where and how deep
Footage tells you what's wrong. Locating tells you where. We track the camera head from above ground so we can mark the spot on your lawn or path and estimate how deep the pipe sits.
That matters for the quote. A fault near an access point under lawn is a very different job to one under a slab. It also helps work out whether the fault is on your private pipe or past the connection point (see who fixes the sewer pipe).
Step by step
- We find the best access point.
- If needed, we clear the line so the camera can see.
- We run the camera and you watch the screen with us.
- We locate any fault and mark it above ground.
- We explain what we saw and the options, with an itemised quote for any repair.
The rules in Queensland
QBCC licenses plumbing and drainage in Queensland. A business contracting for drainage work needs a QBCC contractor licence in Drainage or Plumbing and drainage, and the person doing the work needs an occupational drainer (or plumber and drainer) licence (QBCC).
Building near sewers: Urban Utilities screening criteria for houses and sheds include staying at least 3 m horizontally clear of the pipe centreline, and easements need the owner's consent (Urban Utilities).
Fast quote
Get a fast quote
Send us a few details and we'll be in touch within 30 minutes.
How it works. Easy as.
Fill out the quick form
A name, a number and what the drain is doing. Photos help if you have them.
We'll be in touch within 30 minutes
We ask a few questions and book a time that suits you.
We come out, clear what we can and run a camera through the pipe
If it is blocked, we get it flowing first. Then the camera goes in to find the cause.
We show you the footage and explain what is wrong
You watch it with us. We point out the crack, the roots or the sag, and roughly where it sits in the yard.
Itemised fixed quote, inspection and repair costs shown separately
Every line on its own, so you can see what the inspection cost and what the fix would cost.
Say yes, flexible payment options if cash flow's tight
No pressure to decide on the spot. If you go ahead, we can talk through ways to spread the cost.
Fixed and checked on camera again, so you can see it's done
Once the work is finished, the camera goes back in and you see the result for yourself.
What changes the cost
Inspection cost depends on access, pipe length and whether the line needs clearing first. Our camera inspection guide price is shown below. We always show the inspection as its own line.
Questions people ask us
Can I see the camera footage?
Yes. That's the whole point of how we work. You watch the footage with us on the day, we point out what we're seeing, and we explain where the problem is before we talk about any repair.
Should I pay for a camera inspection first?
Usually, yes. Older homes can have original drains, replaced drains or a mix of materials, so the actual pipe has to be checked before anyone recommends a fix. Without footage, a quote for relining or digging is a guess. We show the inspection as its own line, separate from any repair.
Can I get a rough price before paying for an inspection?
Yes, as a guide. Our pipe relining cost page shows our guide prices. But we can't give you a real price until we've seen the pipe, because length, depth, access and condition all change it. The inspection is quoted as its own item, so you know that cost before you decide anything else.
Can the camera tell how deep my pipe is?
We locate the camera head from above ground to mark where the fault is and estimate the depth. That's what lets us quote properly and say whether digging could be avoided.
Relining or replacing: which is better?
Neither is better every time. Relining puts a new pipe inside the old one without a trench, but the pipe has to be suitable, which only a camera inspection confirms. Digging and replacing may be the right call when a pipe can't be lined. We'll tell you honestly which fits your pipe, and our plain-words guide explains each option.
Who fixes the sewer, me or Urban Utilities?
The property owner is responsible for private pipes up to the sewer connection point. Urban Utilities is responsible for its sewer property connection and mains. The connection point is not necessarily the property boundary (Urban Utilities). If a plumber finds the fault is on Urban Utilities' side, homeowners can submit reasonable costs for consideration, but that is not automatic.
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