CCTV Drain Inspection Melbourne

CCTV Drain Camera Inspections Diagnostics That End the Guesswork

A CCTV drain inspection is the fastest, least invasive way to see exactly what is happening inside your underground pipework. Water Serpent Plumbing uses high-resolution self-levelling colour cameras with on-screen distance counters to film sewer, stormwater and waste lines from 40mm right up to 300mm.

Reviewed and updated July 2026.

You get visual proof of the problem, an accurate location of the defect, and a clear written report — essential for pre-purchase building inspections, insurance claims, owners corporation works and tenant disputes.

📋 What’s Included in Every Inspection

🏠 Buying a Home? Book a Pre-Purchase Drain Inspection

A standard building inspection stops at ground level — it can’t see the sewer and stormwater lines the house depends on. In Melbourne’s leafy east, many homes still run their original earthenware drains, and root damage or collapsed sections only announce themselves after you’ve moved in. A pre-purchase CCTV inspection shows the true condition of the drainage before you commit, and the report gives you real negotiating power if defects turn up.

We book pre-purchase and pre-auction inspections same-week across the eastern suburbs, and pre-slab inspections for renovators and builders — see our pre-slab pour CCTV service. For everything a camera can find, read the full CCTV drain inspection guide.

What a CCTV Drain Camera Reveals

Feeding a camera through the line shows the true condition of your pipes in real time, so the fix is based on evidence rather than guesswork. In Melbourne's east — where many homes still run original earthenware and clay drainage — a CCTV drain inspection typically uncovers:

• Tree root intrusion: roots entering through cracked joints — the number-one cause of recurring blockages across the eastern suburbs and Yarra Ranges.
• Cracked, fractured or collapsed pipe: structural failure in ageing earthenware that clearing alone can't fix.
• Bellies and sags: sections where the pipe has dropped and holds water, trapping waste and causing repeat blockages.
• Grease, scale and debris build-up: exactly how much and where, so we clear the right spot the first time.
• Misaligned or offset joints: where sections have shifted and snag everything passing through.
• Incorrect falls and illegal connections: drainage that was never installed to standard.

Common Warning Signs

• Pre-purchase inspections: buying a home built before the mid-1990s? Earthenware sewers, tree-root intrusion and undocumented repairs are common — worth checking before you sign.
• Repeat blockages: a line that blocks every 6–12 months almost always has a structural defect that needs identifying.
• Insurance claims: insurers require documented evidence of the cause and location of damage. Our reports are accepted by all major insurers.
• Sinkholes or wet patches: unexplained subsidence or moisture in the lawn usually points to a fractured or collapsed pipe.
• New tenancy handover: document the condition of drainage on entry/exit to protect against future disputes.

Building or extending? Pre-pour inspections for builders now have a dedicated page — see our pre-slab pour CCTV inspection service for camera-verifying under-slab drainage before the concrete goes down, with a same-day report.

Our Diagnostic & Repair Process

1. Site walk-through: we identify all access points and the lines you want filmed.
2. Pre-clean if required: heavy build-up is jetted out so the camera can travel and produce a clear image.
3. Camera survey: self-levelling colour camera is fed through the line at controlled speed with distance, depth and pan/tilt recorded.
4. Sonde location: defects are marked on the surface using a pipe locator accurate to within 100mm and to the correct depth.
5. Written report & footage: you receive a PDF report with screenshots, GPS markers and recommendations — plus the full video on request.

Equipment We Use

• Self-levelling colour push cameras: for 40–150mm lines including basins, showers, vents and small sewers.
• Tractor-mounted crawler cameras: for 150–300mm commercial and council mains with pan/tilt heads.
• Sondes & pipe locators: precise above-ground location of any defect, junction or blockage.
• Digital reporting software: industry-standard reports with timestamped images, distance and depth.

How Much Does a CCTV Drain Inspection Cost in Melbourne?

A CCTV drain inspection in Melbourne is usually a single fixed price covering the camera survey, sonde location of any defect, and a written report with footage. The exact figure depends on how many lines you need filmed, whether the drain needs a pre-clean (jetting) so the camera can travel and see clearly, and how easy the inspection point is to access. We give you an upfront price before we start — no surprises. For how a camera inspection fits into overall drain pricing, see our blocked drain cost guide for Melbourne.

Service Area Across Melbourne's Eastern Suburbs

We service Ringwood, Bayswater, Croydon, Ferntree Gully, Boronia, Wantirna, Kilsyth, Mooroolbark, Glen Waverley, Lilydale, Rowville, Knoxfield, Vermont, Blackburn, Mitcham, Nunawading, Box Hill, Forest Hill, Heathmont, Mount Evelyn, Healesville, Belgrave, Tecoma, Upwey, Olinda, Kalorama, Montrose, Silvan, Seville, Coldstream, Yarra Junction, Emerald, Gembrook, Cockatoo, Monbulk and surrounding eastern and outer-eastern Melbourne suburbs.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do you do CCTV drain inspections near me?

Yes — we run CCTV drain camera inspections right across Melbourne's outer east, the Dandenong Ranges and the Yarra Valley. A standard inspection usually runs $300–$400; see our CCTV drain inspection guide for the full cost breakdown, or call Jack on 0425 226 636.

How much does a CCTV drain inspection cost?

Most residential inspections are a single fixed price that includes camera survey, sonde location and a written report. Call us with your suburb and we will quote upfront.

Can you locate the exact position of a defect?

Yes. Our cameras contain a sonde transmitter that allows us to mark the position on the surface and provide an accurate depth, so any future excavation is targeted and minimal.

Do you provide the video footage?

Yes — we provide the full video plus a written summary report at no extra charge for any inspection where a defect is found.

Is a CCTV inspection worth it before buying a house?

For any property over 25 years old, absolutely. The cost of an inspection is a fraction of the cost of a sewer replacement, and gives you genuine negotiating evidence.

Do I need a CCTV inspection or just a drain clean?

If it's a one-off blockage, a clean may be all you need. But if the drain blocks repeatedly, you're buying a property, or there's subsidence or a sewer smell, a CCTV inspection finds the underlying cause so you fix it once — rather than paying to clear the same line again and again.

How soon can you do a CCTV inspection in Melbourne?

We offer same-day and next-day CCTV drain inspections across Melbourne's eastern and outer-eastern suburbs. Call 0425 226 636 with your suburb for current availability and an upfront price.

What does a CCTV drain inspection include?

Every inspection includes a full colour camera survey of the line, recorded footage that’s yours to keep, defect locations with depth and distance readings, a plain-English written report, and a fixed written quote for any repairs found — with no obligation to proceed.

Can a drain camera see under concrete slabs and driveways?

Yes — the camera travels inside the pipe, so slabs, driveways and landscaping don’t get in the way. Paired with a surface locator, we mark the defect’s exact position and depth from above before any cutting or digging is even discussed. That’s how you avoid tearing up a driveway to find a problem that sits two metres further along.

Book Your CCTV Drain Inspection Job Today

Book a CCTV inspection with a Victorian plumber. Written report, sonde location and footage included.