Out of sight, out of mind is a phrase you hear a lot but, as a maintenance policy for guttering and plumbing in a high-rise building, it’s not the best approach.
Managing rain and wastewater is critical for avoiding damp problems and water damage through leaks and flooding. High-rise buildings often need more sophisticated plumbing and waste systems and pose special problems in terms of access and safety. They are also more exposed to the elements.
For these reasons, if you are responsible for maintaining a high-rise building, whether residential or a commercial property, it’s important not only to have a regular maintenance programme in place but the right expertise and equipment to do the job correctly and safely.
The challenge 
Guttering and drainage systems are integral and important elements in a tall building’s design and they need looking after. But blocked-up gutters which are hard to spot from ground level can lead to water overflow, damaging the roof, walls, windows and foundations.
They can also lead to damp and mould problems which, if your property is residential, could lead to a Health and Safety prosecution and a fine or worse.
As well as damage to the fabric of a building, guttering can become overloaded with debris from nearby trees and trapped rainwater, causing it to sag and come away, endangering passers-by below.
It’s easy to be tempted to deal with repairs or maintenance yourself as a cheap option but sometimes a sturdy ladder and a bucket aren’t enough, and life and limb could be put at risk.
The importance of regular, professional maintenance
Regular maintenance and clearing of drains and gutters are essential for the structural integrity of the entire building, prolonging its lifespan and ensuring it remains operational.
A regular maintenance routine supported by professionals with the correct training, licences and equipment will give you peace of mind that your building, clients and staff remain safe.
Safer solutions
Cherry pickers, ladders, scaffolding, or even abseiling, are options for high-rise maintenance but they still require someone to work at height, which is inherently dangerous.
An alternative, which we decided to use, is the Skyvac™ range of products, for gutter clearing and surveying while the operator remains safely on the ground.
Our Skyvac gutter vacuums remove the need to hire and set up expensive and time-consuming cherry pickers or scaffolding. In addition, we use Skyvac’s Surveycam™, a high-reach camera, monitor and pole system that lets us inspect buildings up to 50ft or five stories high. This robust, high-reach inspection system includes an HD camera with LED lights, 5-inch full HD monitor and a high-grade carbon fibre telescopic pole.
This means a single operator can quickly set it up to capture high-quality imagery and video for a swift but thorough survey.
Our tips for maintaining drains and guttering on high-rise buildings
- Run a regular maintenance schedule to avoid expensive repair bills, reduce the risk of prosecution and keep your property profitably operational. Inspect gutters and remove debris at least twice a year, especially after autumn.
- Bring in experts with the right training and equipment.
- Prevention is better than cure. Consider installing gutter guards to stop debris from entering gutters, downpipes and drains.
- Also, cut away branches overhanging your roof or guttering which will become a source of leaf and twig debris.
Do you need professional help with high-rise maintenance?
High-rise structures require rigorous inspections and adherence to safety standards to ensure the integrity of the building’s framework.
We have 50 years of experience in unblocking, cleaning and repairing drains at all heights, and depths, in Aldershot and the south.
If you would like to talk to Drains and Sewer Services about our high-rise plumbing and gutter maintenance services, call us on 01252 312738 or email info@drainandsewer.co.uk for more information and a no-obligation quote.