According to the Met Office, the UK has just experienced its eighth wettest winter on record. It also predicted that winters in the UK will become up to 30% wetter in 2070 than in 1990.
Commercial operations rely on a functioning drainage system to keep their premises safe, hygienic and operating properly, for visiting customers and for employees and suppliers.
If these Met predictions are true, your drainage system will come under more and more strain. So, unless businesses ensure theirs are working efficiently, they risk disruption, closure and loss of income, as well as higher repair costs.
The best way to do that is put a regular maintenance plan in place, alongside a disaster management plan should the worst happen.
What can go wrong with your drainage system?
A commercial drainage system is subject to many threats:
System Overload. Commercial properties see a greater amount of use and flow rate than domestic ones. If your sewage and drainage system doesn’t have sufficient capacity, it will overflow leading to backing up, blockage, standing water and bad smells.
Blocked drains. Commercial drainage systems get blocked if unmaintained, causing many problems that affect the operation, safety and appearance of your premises. Blockages are caused by invading tree roots, build-up of branches, leaves and other organic matter, soil, stones, dumped rubble and other rubbish. Kitchen waste such as fats and oils are also a drain blocker.
Drain field damage. The drain field is an important element of a septic system through which excess wastewater flows away from your property into the ground. If the drain field becomes compacted, polluted from your waste system or saturated, your land can become contaminated or waterlogged, leading to backing up.
Clogged gutters. This can lead to water damage to exterior walls, foundations, roofs and windows when rainwater spills over and runs down the side of a building. Rainwater can also leak inside your property, causing damp, mould and interior damage. This can all lead to health problems.
Cracked and broken pipes. This is a common cause of drainage system failure and leads to flooding, pollution and damage to walls and foundations which can make your premise dangerous to users’ health and safety.
How to avoid or mitigate against drainage emergencies
Prevention is better than cure and a regular maintenance programme can stop small problems from becoming large ones that could temporarily shut you down, with all the losses and expense that would entail.
A drain and sewer contractor can carry out a routine survey of your entire system. Modern, professionally qualified surveyors now have non-destructive methods such as drones and remote-controlled cameras to inspect hard-to-access areas and drain interiors.
We find that our clients usually want at least annual inspections, but it really depends on the nature of your operation, size and age of premises, heaviness of footfall and the environment – as well as your budget. Some clients want quarterly maintenance visits but the cost is still likely to be less than that for remedial work.
Inspections can also be seasonal. Autumn is a bad time for blockages, especially in the run-up to cold weather when freezing damages pipes, so this is a good time for an inspection and clearance work.
In addition, effective management can help reduce the chances of a drainage emergency by promoting good practice, for example controlling what goes down sinks and toilets, preventing heavy vehicles from parking on drain fields and analysing flow rates and reviewing your needs as your business expands.
And should the worst happen, you need to know you can call on a contractor 24/7, with the equipment and expertise to gain access to the problem area and deal with it quickly, with minimum disruption to your operation.
We help commercial and domestic customers deal with drainage emergencies
In a commercial setting, it’s imperative to meet all of your health and hygiene regulations, as well as your duty of care to employees, visitors and tenants. And in locations such as schools or nursing homes or rented accommodation, you may have more vulnerable people to protect.
No matter the size and nature of your property, you rely on the continuous and efficient working of your drainage system. It’s only the scale of the potential disaster that changes.
At D&S Services we deliver the same high level of holistic service, through regular maintenance contracts or 24/7 emergency callouts, to ensure that drains keep on flowing.
If you are responsible for a commercial-scale property or you’re a homeowner and want peace of mind as well as smaller repair bills, talk to one of our team at Drain and Sewers on 01252 312738 or email info@drainandsewer.co.uk for an obligation-free discussion about how we can support you.