CCTV Drain Inspection & Hydro-Jetting

There's a smarter way to deal with a stubborn or recurring blocked drain than snaking it, hoping, and calling us back three months later. With CCTV drain inspection, we send a camera down the pipe and see exactly what's going on — tree roots, a collapsed section, grease, or a foreign object — then use high-pressure hydro-jetting to clear it properly. Our licensed Canning Vale plumbers use this combination to fix drainage problems at the source across Perth's south-east.

Why cameras beat guesswork

For years, clearing a drain meant running a cable down it and hoping to punch through whatever was in the way. That might restore flow briefly, but it rarely tells you why the drain blocked or whether it'll block again next month. A drain camera changes that. We feed a waterproof CCTV camera through the pipe and watch a live feed of the inside, so we can see the actual condition and cause rather than guessing from the surface.

That means no unnecessary digging, no guesswork, and a repair matched to the real problem. If it's roots, we know exactly where they're getting in. If the pipe has cracked or collapsed, we can see the extent before quoting a repair. It also gives you honest evidence — you see what we see on the screen, so you can make an informed decision.

What CCTV inspection reveals

• Tree root intrusion through joints and cracks
• Cracked, collapsed or misaligned pipe sections
• Grease and fat build-up, common in kitchen lines
• Foreign objects and debris
• Pipe sagging or 'bellies' that trap waste
• The general condition of ageing clay or PVC pipework

The tree root problem in older suburbs

A lot of the drainage trouble we see in established areas like Gosnells, Thornlie and older parts of Canning Vale comes down to one thing: tree roots in clay sewer pipes. Older homes were plumbed with earthenware clay pipes joined in sections, and over decades those joints loosen or crack. Roots seek out the moisture and nutrients inside, work their way in through the tiniest gap, and grow into a mass that catches everything flushed down. Our article on tree roots in drains explains why it happens and what your options are for a lasting fix.

A camera confirms roots are the cause and shows exactly where they're entering, so we can target the fix rather than treating the whole line blindly.

Hydro-jetting: the proper clear

Once we know what we're dealing with, hydro-jetting does the heavy lifting. A specialised hose delivers water at very high pressure through a jetting head, scouring the inside of the pipe clean. Unlike a cable that pokes a hole through a blockage, jetting removes the build-up entirely — cutting through roots, blasting away grease, and flushing out debris so the pipe is restored close to its full diameter.

• Cuts through tree roots and clears the root mass, not just a channel through it
• Strips grease and fat off the pipe walls completely
• Flushes sediment and debris right out of the line
• Restores full flow rather than a temporary trickle
• No harsh chemicals — it's just high-pressure water

Because jetting cleans the whole pipe wall rather than boring a hole through the middle, drains stay clear far longer than they do after a quick cable clear. For a recurring blockage, that's the difference between a real fix and a temporary band-aid.

Pipe locating

Sometimes the issue is knowing where the pipe actually runs — before a renovation, a landscaping job, or a repair. Our camera equipment includes locating technology that traces the exact position and depth of the pipe from the surface. That means if a section needs digging up, we dig in the right spot the first time instead of excavating half the yard. It also helps you avoid hitting drains during garden or building work, which is an expensive mistake to make.

Great before you buy a home

If you're buying an established home in the south-east, a CCTV drain inspection is one of the smartest checks you can do before you sign. Drains are hidden, expensive to fix, and rarely covered by a standard building inspection — yet a collapsed sewer or a line full of tree roots can cost thousands to put right. Sending a camera down before purchase tells you the true condition of the pipework, so there are no nasty surprises after you've moved in. In older suburbs with clay sewers, it's a particularly worthwhile bit of due diligence, and it gives you real leverage if the drains do turn out to need work.

From diagnosis to lasting fix

CCTV and jetting work hand in hand with the rest of what we do. If the camera reveals a cracked or collapsed pipe, that's a repair job — and knowing exactly where and how bad it is means an accurate, no-surprises quote. If your blocked drains keep coming back no matter how often they're cleared, this is how we finally break the cycle. And if it's an after-hours overflow, it ties into our emergency plumbing response.

For homeowners tired of recurring blockages, a jetting service combined with a camera inspection is genuinely worth it — you find out what's really happening down there and clear it properly, rather than paying for the same quick fix over and over again.

All work is carried out by licensed, insured plumbers with upfront pricing, so you know the cost before we start and there are no surprises when the job's done.

Sick of blocked drains? Request a quote or call our licensed Canning Vale plumbers for a CCTV inspection and proper hydro-jet clean.

Frequently asked questions

What is CCTV drain inspection and why do I need it?

We send a waterproof camera down your drain to see exactly what's causing a blockage — tree roots, a collapsed pipe, grease, or an object. It replaces guesswork with a live view of the pipe's condition, so any repair is matched to the real problem and you avoid unnecessary digging.

How is hydro-jetting different from snaking a drain?

A cable (snake) pokes a hole through a blockage to restore some flow temporarily. Hydro-jetting uses high-pressure water to scour the entire pipe wall clean — cutting through roots, stripping grease, and flushing out debris. It restores near-full flow and keeps drains clear far longer than snaking.

Why do my drains keep blocking in an older suburb?

Older homes in areas like Gosnells and Thornlie often have clay sewer pipes with joints that loosen and crack over time. Tree roots find the moisture inside and grow into the pipe, catching everything flushed down. A camera confirms it and jetting clears the roots, which usually breaks the cycle of repeat blockages.

Can you find where my pipe runs before I dig?

Yes. Our camera equipment includes pipe-locating technology that traces the exact position and depth of the drain from the surface. That's useful before renovations, landscaping or repairs — you dig in the right spot the first time and avoid accidentally hitting drains.