Does your drain need a camera inspection? Signs to look for

Published 15 October 2026 by the Gotcha Plumbing team

A drain camera inspection shows what is happening inside a drain. You do not need one every time a drain blocks. Here is how to tell when it helps.

When one blockage is just one blockage

If a drain blocks once, for example after something was washed or flushed down it that should not have been, it can often be cleared without a camera.

Signs a camera inspection can help

• The same drain keeps blocking, even after it has been cleared
• Slow drains in more than one place
• Bad smells from drains that keep coming back
• Gurgling from the toilet or drains
• Water backing up in a gully, shower or manhole
• A wet or sunken patch in the garden near your drain line

What a camera shows

A small camera goes into the pipe. It can show what is blocking the drain and whether the pipe itself is damaged. That helps us fix the real problem instead of clearing the same blockage again.

What you get from us

After an inspection you get a full report with photos of the site and of any damage, so you can decide what to do next. Video is available on request, and we measure how far along the pipe a fault is. Quotes are free. Read more about our drain camera inspections.

If a drain is overflowing right now

1. Stop using water in the house, including toilets, taps, washing machines and dishwashers.
2. Keep children and pets away from overflowing water.
3. Call or WhatsApp us with your suburb and where the water is coming out.

Buying, selling or renting out a property?

A camera inspection can also check the drains before anyone signs. See our property drain inspections.