What does a CCTV drain inspection include?
A CCTV inspection puts a purpose-built waterproof camera through your sewer or stormwater line and records what it finds. We feed the camera from an inspection opening, gully or removed toilet, watch the live feed, and note the position and depth of any defect using a sonde locator above ground. You see the footage on the day. Depending on the package, you also get a written report with footage, defect locations and our recommendation, which matters if you are dealing with insurance, a real estate agent or a pre-purchase decision.
How much does each CCTV option cost?
As of 2026, our fixed CCTV pricing on the Gold Coast is:
| Option | Price (2026) | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| CCTV camera add-on while on site | $120 to $180 | Checking the pipe straight after a blockage clear |
| Standalone CCTV inspection | $200 to $350 | Diagnosing recurring problems, pre-purchase checks |
| CCTV + high-pressure jetting + written report | $500 to $900 | Root-bound drains, insurance claims, relining quotes |
The add-on price is the one most people should know about. If we are already clearing your blocked drain for $250 to $400, adding the camera for $120 to $180 tells you why it blocked and whether it will block again. That is the cheapest diagnostic you will ever buy for your drainage.
When is a CCTV inspection worth paying for?
A CCTV inspection is worth it whenever a drain has blocked more than once, before you buy a property, and before anyone quotes you for pipe repairs. Repeat blockages always have a cause: roots, a cracked pipe, a belly holding water, or a bad joint. Guessing at the cause means paying for clears forever. Before a property purchase, a camera inspection is a few hundred dollars of insurance against a $5,000 to $15,000 plus drain replacement you did not budget for. And if any plumber quotes you relining or excavation without showing you camera footage, get a second opinion. We will not quote structural drain work without footage, and you should not accept a quote without it.
What problems can the camera actually find?
The camera finds the faults you cannot see from the surface: tree root intrusion at joints, cracked or collapsed pipe sections, displaced joints from ground movement, bellies where the pipe has sagged and holds water, grease build-up, and foreign objects. On the Gold Coast the most common finding in older suburbs is roots entering earthenware pipe joints. On newer estates we more often find builder's debris, sagged PVC from poor bedding in sandy soil, or a crushed section where something heavy went over a shallow line.
Can the camera work in a blocked drain?
A camera cannot see through a full blockage, which is why sequencing matters. If the line is completely blocked, we clear it first with the machine, then camera it. That is exactly what the add-on price is for. If the drain is only partially blocked or slow, the camera can usually pass and show us the restriction directly. Anyone who quotes a camera inspection as the fix for a fully blocked drain has the order wrong: the clear is the fix, the camera is the diagnosis.
What happens after the inspection?
After the inspection you get the findings, the footage and a fixed price for whatever comes next, with no obligation. If the pipe is sound, that is the end of it, and the footage is your baseline. If we find damage, the usual options as of 2026 are a spot repair at $800 to $1,800 for an isolated defect, pipe relining at $400 to $600 or more per metre installed for longer runs, or full replacement at $5,000 to $15,000 plus where the pipe is beyond lining. Because the camera has already located and measured the defect, those quotes are accurate rather than padded for surprises.
Want to know what is really going on in your drains? Call Hills Plumbing & Gas on 0472 657 042. Fixed prices before we start, footage you can keep, QBCC licence 15243081, and 5.0 stars from 27 Google reviews. Details on our blocked drains page.