There are lots of things owners or managers of commercial properties give their attention to but drain cleaning is not one of them. For most owners and managers, says Gifford Properties & Management, drains only come into the picture when some emergency threatens to disrupt the everyday operation of the property. The drains on the property are mostly ignored the rest of the time if they are functioning properly.
But like most maintenance issues in a commercial property, the best way to handle commercial drains is to ensure they don’t have any problems. The only way to do this is by establishing and following a program of routine maintenance. Regular maintenance of the drains will help keep problems at bay and you will be able to detect issues before they become real problems.
What should be included in a commercial drains maintenance program?
The first and most important part is to educate your employees and visitors on the proper way to handle the drainage systems. This means explaining the kinds of objects or materials that should never be allowed to get into the drains. It also means posting signs in prominent areas to remind your staff and visitors of these guidelines.
The second part of the drain maintenance program is to have a scheduled sewer camera inspection and cleaning of the commercial drainage system. This should be done at specific intervals, regardless of whether you have a problem or not. Regular drain inspection and cleaning keep problems at a minimum. They help you avoid bigger issues down the road.
The third is to incorporate daily drain cleaning habits that will protect your drains and save you money. One such practice involves pouring hot water into the drain every day to wash away fats, oils, or grease that has found its way into the pipes. Pouring a cup of vinegar into the drain once a week will also help prevent problems.
Types of commercial drain cleaning services
Drain cleaning can be done as a corrective or preventive measure. Corrective drain cleaning is, of course, the preferred option. The financial cost of solving problems before they happen is a lot lower than the cost of solving issues after they have been allowed to take root. There are three kinds of drain cleaning services you will need at your commercial property.
Commercial sewer rodding
This is the most common type of drain cleaning service. It is an older method but still in use because of its simplicity and effectiveness. Sewer rodding is usually the first method a plumber will use if there is an obstruction in your drainpipes. A drain snake is just a length of spring cable with an auger head attached to one end and a motor at the other end.
The auger has one or more blades to help it snag objects obstructing the pipe and pull them out, or cut them into smaller bits that are easily washed into the main sewer system. The cable along with the auger head is inserted into the drain opening until it reaches the obstruction. The motor is then turned on to rotate the auger head and cut through the obstruction.
Auger heads come in various sizes. The right auger head for a clearing a pipe depends on the diameter of the pipe. Commercial drain snakes can reach deep into sewer pipes to find and remove clogs.
Sewer video camera inspections
This is a diagnostic tool rather than a drain cleaning method. Sewer video camera inspections are used by plumbers to locate the site of an obstruction, assess the extent of the problem, and its possible causes. The inspection gives the plumber the information they need to determine the best way to remove the clog. Video camera inspections are done before attempts at drain cleaning.
The video camera equipment consists of a waterproof camera attached to the end of a cable along with a flashlight. This cable is connected at its other end to a monitor where the live stream from the camera is monitored. The plumber inserts the video camera into the drain and works it through the pipes, while simultaneously monitoring the feed on the monitor.
Video camera inspections help plumbers pinpoint the exact location and the seriousness of a drain clog without the need for costly excavations.
Commercial Hydro-jetting services
Hydro-jetting is very effective for cleaning drains and removing obstructions within drainpipes. It uses a powerful blast of pressurized water to dislodge buildup inside the pipes; it can even slice through tree roots. Hydro-jetting equipment consists of a hose connected to a water tank and a special pressurizing machine with a high-pressure nozzle at the other end.
This hose is inserted into the drain and the machine sends a jet of water of up to 5,000 psi into the pipes. The water pressure is strong enough to clear away grease, scum, tree roots, sludge, and other debris. Hydro-jetting is more effective than sewer rodding since it doesn’t just poke a hole through the obstacle; it removes it completely.
However, this method is typically used if rodding the obstacle doesn’t work. This is because hydro-jetting is an aggressive method that can result in damage to old and weakened pipes.