A CCTV drain inspection sends a small waterproof camera through your drains on a flexible rod, so a plumber can see the inside of the pipe on a screen. It shows what is actually going on underground: tree roots, cracks, joints that have shifted, sections that sag and hold water, and blockages. It is a quick way to find out why a drain keeps blocking and what the fix really needs to be, without digging up the yard to look.
For Geelong homeowners, landlords and home buyers, that matters because most drain problems look the same from above. A slow shower, a gurgling toilet or a wet patch over the drain line could be a one-off blockage or a broken pipe. The camera tells you which.
Below we cover how a camera inspection works, what it shows, when it is worth booking one, and what affects the cost. If your drains are already playing up, you can contact our team at APG Plumbing and tell us what you are seeing.
How a CCTV drain inspection works, step by step
The inspection is simple, which is why it is usually the first step on a recurring drain problem rather than the last.
1. Access. The plumber opens the drain at an access point. In Geelong that is often the inspection shaft, a vertical pipe set in concrete with a lid marked “IS”, or an inspection opening on the house drain.
2. Camera in. A waterproof camera head on a flexible rod is pushed along the pipe, lighting the inside as it goes.
3. Live footage. The picture appears on a monitor at the surface and can be recorded, so you can see what the plumber sees.
4. Locate and mark. When the camera finds a fault, a locator at the surface picks up the camera head, so the plumber can mark the position and depth of the problem on the ground.
That last step is what saves money later. Knowing the location and depth of a broken section means a repair can target that spot instead of opening up the whole line. You can see how this fits into our wider drainage work on our drainage and CCTV.
What the camera shows that you can’t see from the yard
Symptoms point to a problem; the camera confirms it. These are the faults a drain camera is used to find:
- Tree roots growing in through joints or cracks. Barwon Water lists tree roots alongside wipes and fat as common causes of sewer blockages.
- Cracked or broken pipe, including sections that have partly collapsed.
- Displaced joints, where two lengths of pipe no longer line up and catch waste.
- Sags or “bellies”, low sections that hold water and debris.
- Build-up of fat, oil and grease, or wipes and other items that should not be flushed.
- Where the problem sits — in your private drain, or further along towards the sewer main.
Because the footage can be kept, it also gives you a record to compare against later, or to show an insurer, a builder or a buyer. If the camera finds a damaged section, our pipe repair and replacement services.
When you need a CCTV drain inspection
Not every blocked drain needs a camera. One that clears and stays clear may just have been a one-off. These are the situations where an inspection earns its keep.
When you need a CCTV drain inspection
If the same drain blocks again weeks or months after it was cleared, something in the pipe is catching waste. Clearing it again treats the symptom; a camera finds the cause.
Before you buy a house
A standard pre-purchase building inspection does not test the condition of underground sewer pipes, water supply lines or stormwater, and does not include a camera inspection of the drains, as RACV notes. RACV suggests a separate plumbing inspection for older homes and properties with large established trees. A pre-purchase drain inspection is how you find a root-filled or broken drain before it becomes your repair bill.
Before you renovate, extend or landscape
Building an extension, laying a new driveway or planting trees over an old drain line is easier to plan when you know where the pipe runs, how deep it is and what condition it is in.
Smells, gurgling or overflow
A sewage smell, gurgling fixtures or water coming up through the inspection shaft all point to a problem further down the line. Barwon Water’s advice is to call them straight away if the inspection shaft overflows when no appliances are in use, and to call a plumber if it only happens when you are using water.
Book a Drain Camera Inspection in Geelong
Tell us what your drains are doing and we’ll arrange a camera inspection to find out what is causing it.
Who pays when the problem is in the sewer main?
Before paying for sewer work in Geelong, it helps to know where your responsibility ends, and a camera inspection is often what shows which side of that line the fault is on.
Barwon Water is responsible for the sewer from the main up to the first access opening, or a short distance inside your property boundary, whichever comes first. Everything past that point is the property owner’s responsibility. If a blockage turns out to be in Barwon Water’s section, they will cover reasonable costs for removing it, capped at $250 including GST, but you need to notify them and have them confirm the problem is in their pipes before you claim.
Two details are worth knowing before you book anything. Barwon Water asks customers with recurring blockages in the house connection drain to contact them before engaging a plumber. And their reimbursement does not cover CCTV work unless they have asked for it. If sewage is overflowing now, see our emergency plumbing service.
What affects CCTV drain inspection cost
There is no single price for a camera inspection, because no two drains are the same. These are the things that move the quote up or down:
- Access. An easy-to-reach inspection opening is quick. A buried or missing access point has to be found or exposed first.
- Whether the drain has to be cleared first. A camera cannot see through a full blockage, so a blocked line is usually cleared before it is filmed.
- How much pipe is inspected. One short line costs less than a full property with several runs.
- Locating and marking. Marking the position and depth of each fault takes extra time, and it is the part that makes a targeted repair possible.
- The report. Footage and a written condition report are worth asking for if you are buying, selling or dealing with an insurer.
- Timing. Urgent and out-of-hours jobs are priced differently from a booked inspection.
A lower quote is not always better value. Footage with no location marked can leave you paying for a second visit to find the fault again. Ask what you will get at the end: the footage, a report, and the fault marked on the ground.
What happens after the inspection
Once the camera has done its job, you should know three things: what the fault is, exactly where it is, and how deep it sits. From there the options usually fall into a few groups:
- Clear and monitor, where the pipe is sound and the problem was a blockage.
- Repair a section, where one joint or length is damaged and has been located.
- Replace a run of pipe, where damage is spread along the line.
At APG Plumbing we talk you through the footage and the options before any work starts, so you can decide with the facts in front of you. You can read more about our team and how we work.
Where to find us
APG Plumbing is based at Shed 4, 40 Essington Street, Grovedale VIC 3216, and works across Geelong and the surrounding area. Call 03 5292 8850 or email office@apgservices.com.au
Final thoughts: When do you need a CCTV drain inspection?
You need a camera inspection of your drains when a drain keeps blocking, when you are about to buy a property and want to know what is underground, when you are planning work over or near a drain line, or when smells and gurgling suggest a fault further down. In each case the camera replaces guesswork with footage.
The short version: clear a drain once, but film it if it comes back.
APG Plumbing also handles the work that often follows an inspection, from clearing sewer and stormwater blockages to pipe repairs, as well as general plumbing, hot water and gas fitting across Geelong.
If your drains are giving you trouble, contact our team and tell us what you are noticing. We will let you know whether a camera inspection is the right next step.
FAQ
What is a CCTV drain inspection?
It is an inspection where a plumber pushes a small waterproof camera through your drain on a flexible rod and watches the footage on a screen, so faults like roots, cracks and blockages can be seen without digging.
How much does a CCTV drain inspection cost in Geelong?
It depends on access, whether the drain needs clearing first, how much pipe is filmed, whether faults are located and marked, and whether you want a written report. Ask APG Plumbing for a quote for your property.
How long does a drain camera inspection take?
It varies with the property. A single line with an easy access point is quicker than a site where the access point has to be found, the drain cleared first, or several runs filmed and marked.
Can a camera inspection find tree roots in my drain?
Yes. Roots entering through joints or cracks show up clearly on the footage, and a locator can mark where they are on the ground. Barwon Water lists tree roots as a common cause of sewer blockages.
Should I get a drain inspection before buying a house?
It is worth considering, especially for older homes or properties with large trees. A standard building inspection does not test underground sewer pipes or include a drain camera inspection, so a separate drain check fills that gap.
Talk to APG Plumbing About Your Drains
Call 03 5292 8850 or send an enquiry, and our team will talk you through a drain camera inspection.
