How to Prevent Blockages in Your Stormwater Drainage System
Posted on: 27 July 2018
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Proper maintenance of your domestic stormwater drainage system is integral to its overall performance. Problems such as clogged drain lines can cause serious flooding that would put your building's foundation at risk of damage. What's more, this can also lead to septic flooding, which would be another disaster in your home. That's why you need to inspect your stormwater drainage system regularly and ensure that there is no blockage. Here you will learn three tips that will help you maintain your drainage system and prevent flooding.
Install filters on grates.
The drainage system has grates that are usually installed to allow water to drain into the underground piping system. As water flows into the grates, any small particles, leaves and debris that's been pulled along may also find its way into the drains. Over time, the debris accumulates in the pipes and causes blockages. Prevent this by installing filters over your drainage grates. The filters come with small holes that only allow water to pass through. The debris in the water remains trapped on top of the filter. Clean your filters regularly to avoid blockages, which may cause flooding on your property.
Inspect your downpipes.
Downpipes are the pipes that carry water from your roof gutters to the ground or the sub-surface drainage system. Also known as roof drains or downspouts, these pipes play a critical role in directing water away from your gutters and foundation. They are usually attached at all the corners of the building. Inspect them regularly to check for any leaves and other forms of debris that may have clogged the pipes. If there is a clog, use a garden hose to clear it. You can also contact a professional to clean the pipes for you at least once a year.
Clean drains regularly.
The thing with stormwater drains is that they are usually installed out of sight. Therefore, it may be hard for you to detect a clog until there is flooding or water backup. That's why you should adopt preventative maintenance to keep the pipes clean at all times. Get a professional stormwater drainage service to clean the drains at least once a year. During this procedure, they should water jet the drains to clear any blockage therein. Also, ask them to clean your grates and filters to get rid of sand, leaves and other debris that accumulates on them over time.
With these tips, you should be able to maintain a healthy stormwater drainage system that will efficiently drain away runoff from your property.