Water Near the Foundation
Water repeatedly collecting beside the house may indicate that the drainage around the foundation is not moving water properly.
See what is happening inside your underground drainage before deciding whether it needs cleaning, root removal or repair.
Vancouver Underground Drainage Experts provides drain camera inspections for perimeter drains, drain tile, weeping tile and other accessible exterior drainage systems throughout Greater Vancouver.
A camera inspection can help identify roots, sediment, standing water, separated joints, damaged pipe and collapsed sections without guessing where the problem is underground.
A drainage problem is not always caused by the same thing. Water around a foundation or slow underground drainage may be caused by sediment buildup, roots, a separated joint, damaged drain tile or another restriction.
A camera inspection lets us look inside accessible underground drainage and better understand the condition of the pipe before deciding what should happen next.
Water repeatedly collecting beside the house may indicate that the drainage around the foundation is not moving water properly.
Moisture along foundation walls can be one reason to investigate the condition of the exterior drainage system.
If a line keeps backing up or draining poorly after previous work, a camera can help determine what remains inside the pipe.
Standing water or slow movement through an accessible drainage line may indicate sediment, roots or another restriction.
Roots can enter older drainage through joints, cracks and openings and may eventually restrict the pipe.
Older Vancouver properties may still have clay drainage that can develop open joints, offsets, roots, cracks or deteriorated sections.
These are real videos from underground drainage inspections. Camera footage allows us to see conditions inside accessible drain tile and perimeter drainage that cannot be identified from the surface.
Real Inspection
Real footage showing the interior condition of an underground drainage line during an inspection.
Perimeter Drainage
Camera inspection helps us see restrictions and the physical condition of accessible drainage pipe.
Drain Tile
Footage from inside drainage can help identify buildup, obstructions or visible pipe problems.
Underground View
Camera footage helps separate visible pipe problems from drainage symptoms occurring at the surface.
Diagnosis
The inspection helps determine whether the next step may involve cleaning, root removal, repair or further investigation.
The terminology used for underground drainage varies between properties. Depending on the drainage design and available access, a camera may be used to inspect several types of exterior drainage.
Drainage running around a building foundation to collect and redirect groundwater away from the structure.
Modern or older drainage installed around foundations. The terms drain tile and weeping tile are often used for perimeter foundation drainage.
Older clay systems can be particularly useful to inspect because joints and aging sections may allow sediment or roots to enter.
Some French drain systems contain accessible perforated drainage pipe that can be inspected when suitable access is available.
Where accessible piping connects catch basins, sump pits or area drainage into the underground drainage system, a camera may help investigate the connected line.
A step-by-step look at how we access the drainage system, inspect the line, identify what is happening underground and explain the findings.
We identify a suitable access point into the drainage system and determine which line needs to be investigated.
The camera is carefully advanced through accessible sections of the underground pipe while the condition of the line is observed.
We look for conditions such as roots, sediment, standing water, separated joints, damaged pipe or collapsed sections.
Once we understand what is visible inside the line, we explain what was found and what the appropriate next step may be.
A camera inspection can reveal a range of issues inside underground drainage systems.
Roots may enter through joints, cracks or openings in underground drainage and restrict the available space inside the pipe.
Fine soil, mud and sediment can accumulate inside drainage and reduce its ability to move water.
A camera may reveal a section where the drainage has collapsed or where the camera can no longer pass.
Pipe sections can shift or separate, creating openings where soil, sediment and roots may enter.
Physical damage can restrict the pipe and may require repair rather than cleaning.
Standing water inside a drainage line can help identify areas where water is not moving through the system as expected.
A camera inspection helps separate a blockage that may be cleaned from roots that need removal or physical drainage damage that needs repair.
If the pipe remains serviceable and buildup is restricting drainage, cleaning or hydro flushing may be appropriate.
Learn About Perimeter & Drain Tile Cleaning →Roots may need to be mechanically removed before the line can be properly assessed or restored.
Learn About Drainage Root Removal →If the pipe itself has failed, cleaning cannot repair it. The affected drainage section may need excavation and repair.
Learn About Perimeter Drain Repair →If an older drainage system has widespread deterioration or is no longer practical to repair, partial or complete replacement may need to be considered.
Learn About Perimeter Drain Installation →
Many older properties around Greater Vancouver may still have clay drainage around the foundation.
Unlike modern continuous plastic drainage pipe, older clay systems can contain numerous joints. Over time, those joints or aging sections may become locations where roots, soil and sediment enter the drainage system.
A camera inspection can help us look for:
Older drainage should not automatically be treated as though it is modern PVC. We first want to understand the condition of the existing system and whether cleaning is appropriate.
If the drainage is still serviceable, cleaning may be an option. If sections are physically damaged, repair or replacement may be more appropriate.
The cost of a drain camera inspection depends on the drainage material, available access, length of the line and condition of the underground system.
Older clay drainage can require more time to investigate than accessible modern PVC, particularly when roots, sediment, offsets or damaged sections restrict camera travel.
| Drain Tile Camera Inspection Service | Starting Price |
|---|---|
| PVC Yard Drainage Camera Inspection | $450 |
| Older Clay / Tile Drainage Camera Inspection | $750 |
| Camera Inspection + Hydro Flushing | $895 |
| Root Cutting + Camera Inspection | $995 |
| Commercial Camera Inspection + Hydro Flushing | $1,295 |
| Commercial Root Cutting + Camera Inspection | $1,395 |
We focus on understanding the underground drainage problem before recommending cleaning, repair or replacement.
We work with perimeter drainage, drain tile, weeping tile and other underground exterior drainage systems throughout Greater Vancouver.
Where conditions allow, camera inspection gives us direct visual information about what is happening inside the drainage instead of relying only on symptoms at the surface.
Older Greater Vancouver properties can have clay drainage, aging joints, roots and other conditions that require a different approach than newer plastic pipe.
Serving Greater Vancouver since 2019, WorkSafeBC covered and carrying $2 million liability insurance.
Vancouver Underground Drainage Experts provides camera inspections for accessible perimeter drains, drain tile, weeping tile and underground exterior drainage at residential, strata and commercial properties throughout Greater Vancouver.
Book a drain camera inspection and get a clearer look at the condition of your accessible underground drainage.
Common questions about drain tile, perimeter drain and underground drainage camera inspections in Greater Vancouver.
A drain tile camera inspection involves inserting a drainage camera into an accessible underground line so the interior condition can be viewed. It can help identify roots, sediment, standing water, separated joints, damaged pipe and other restrictions.
The terms are often used interchangeably when referring to foundation drainage. Drain tile or weeping tile commonly refers to drainage pipe installed around the perimeter of a foundation, although terminology and system design can vary between properties.
Often, yes, when there is suitable access and the line is open enough for the camera to travel. Older clay systems may contain roots, sediment, separated joints or damaged sections that restrict how far the camera can travel.
A camera can often show visible root intrusion inside accessible drainage and help determine where roots are restricting the line.
A camera may reveal physical damage or a point where the pipe or an obstruction prevents further camera travel. In some situations, additional investigation may be required to determine the exact condition or location of the problem.
A camera inspection can be useful when the condition of the drainage is unknown, particularly with older systems. Understanding whether the line contains sediment, roots or physical damage can help determine whether hydro flushing is appropriate.
If the pipe remains structurally serviceable and accumulated material is restricting drainage, cleaning or hydro flushing may be recommended.
The appropriate next step depends on the amount of root intrusion and the condition of the pipe. Significant roots may require drainage root cutting or removal before the line can be properly assessed or restored.
If a section is cracked, separated, crushed or collapsed, cleaning alone cannot repair the pipe. The affected section may require perimeter drain repair .
Pricing depends on the type of drainage, available access, length of the line and condition of the underground system. Our pricing section above lists the current starting prices for accessible PVC drainage, older clay drainage and combined camera inspection and cleaning services.
Tell us what you're seeing at the property and where the drainage problem is occurring. If you have photos of the affected area, include them with your request.
Complete the form below and our drainage team can review the information and determine the appropriate next step.
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