CCTV Drain Inspections in Christchurch: When You Actually Need One

When you need a CCTV inspection

• Recurring blockages that clear temporarily then come back within months
• Slow-draining fixtures across multiple rooms, suggesting a shared line problem
• Bad smells from a gully trap or vent with no obvious cause
• Damp patches, sinking ground or cracked paving above a suspected pipe run
• Before buying a property, especially one built before the 1980s or in an area affected by the earthquakes
• After any earthworks, landscaping or driveway work near known drain lines

Pre-purchase drain inspections

A building report covers the structure, but it usually doesn't include what's under the ground. Old earthenware pipe, root intrusion, cracked joints and earthquake-related displacement are all invisible until something backs up, often after you've settled.

A pre-purchase CCTV inspection costs a fraction of an unexpected drain replacement and gives you real information to negotiate with, or peace of mind that the drainage is sound.

What the footage actually shows

• Cracked, collapsed or displaced pipe sections
• Root intrusion at joints, and how far it's spread
• Bellied or sagging sections where waste pools instead of flowing
• Grease and scale build-up narrowing the pipe
• Foreign objects, from wipes to tree branches to old renovation debris
• The pipe material and general condition along the whole run

Locating the exact spot

Alongside the camera, we run a sonde, a small transmitter in the camera head that a locator on the surface can track. That means we can mark the exact position and depth of a defect on the lawn or driveway above it, so any digging is precise instead of exploratory.

What happens after the inspection

We'll talk you through the footage in plain terms and give you options that match what we've actually seen: a root cut and reline for a single damaged joint, a spot repair for a collapsed section, or a full replacement if the pipe is failing along its length.

You'll get a report you can keep on file, useful for insurance claims, council consents, or simply knowing what's under your section for next time.

Christchurch-specific reasons to get one done

Liquefaction and settlement after the earthquakes displaced pipe joints across large parts of the city, sometimes without any visible surface sign. If your property is on the east side, in the older suburbs, or you've simply never had the drains checked, a camera inspection is a low-cost way to find out what's really going on before it becomes a blocked toilet on a Sunday night.

Frequently asked questions