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The Benefits of Catch Basin Cleaning in Chicago

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A catch basin is a drain that collects rainwater from your yard or the street and channels it into the city’s stormwater management systems. It is a concrete-lined pit with a metal grate at the top. The basin can have a circular, rectangular, or square opening. Inside the catch basin receptacle, there are two openings: an inlet and an outlet.

Catch basins are often present on streets, parking lots, and private properties. Catch basins may be part of a home’s plumbing system. Catch basins that belong to the city may also be on your property. Both private-owned and public-owned catch basins serve the same purpose.

Catch basins may also carry wastewater from the kitchen sink and laundry. All catch basins should trap debris and keep them from flowing into the city’s drainage system. As a result, catch basins often become clogged or damaged.

Common issues you may find with the catch basins in your property are:

  • Clogs resulting from sedimentation, grease buildup, and debris. Grease from the kitchen and laundry, sediment in the water, and litter from the street or yard can collect inside the basin and block it.
  • Foul odors from the catch basin. The materials trapped inside the catch basin may decay and start emitting foul odors. That is an enormous problem if the catch basin is close to your home. Many Chicago homes have catch basins in the backyard and struggle with this issue.
  • Plants’ roots may overgrow the catch basin. It prevents water from reaching the catch basin and could eventually damage it.

To prevent these issues, clean the catch basin at least twice a year.

Who is responsible for cleaning a catch basin?

Catch basins located on private property are the property owner’s responsibility, says Onsite Property Management Services, even if the catch basin belongs to the city. You are responsible for cleaning your privately owned catch basin and the city’s catch basin if it is within your property limits. Failing to do this can leave you open to legal liabilities.

a catch basin cleaning service in chicago.

Enlisting the help of a professional is recommended if you have a problem with foul odors coming from the catch basin.

Why it is vital to clean catch basin

Keeping the catch basin clean is a service to yourself, your family, your property, and the entire community. Regular cleaning of the catch basin helps to preserve your wealth and health. Here are some benefits of cleaning a catch basin regularly:

Prevent flooding

You protect your home from possible flooding. If a catch basin is clogged, the water that should go into it will find another place to go. The closest place for that water to go is usually your basement or crawl space. A clogged catch basin can cost you tens of thousands of dollars worth of property damage.

Protect the road and your home’s value

Water will flood the street if it cannot flow into the catch basin. Stagnant water on the surfaces of the tarred streets is one of the top causes of damage to public roads. A damaged roadside will diminish the curb appeal of your property and hurt the value of homes in the neighborhood.

Preserve your family’s health

The water that goes into a catch basin carries all kinds of harmful chemicals. As long as those chemicals flow underground in the drainage system, they are harmless. But once they are allowed to collect on street surfaces and lawns, they pose a threat to humans and pets. Stagnant water also provides a breeding ground for mosquitoes and other pests.

Avoid hazards on the road

Melted snow that fails to flow into a catch basin will remain on the street and constitute a hazard to pedestrians and motorists. There is a high risk of car accidents, slips, or falls following stagnant water on the road.

Prevent foul odors inside your home

Cleaning the catch basin in your backyard or anywhere on your property will prevent foul odors from building up and finding their way into the home. An unpleasant smell from a catch basin is a sign of heavy bacterial growth. That also poses a threat to your family’s health.

How to clean a catch basin

Depending on how dirty your catch basin is, cleaning it can be moderately hard or very tough. The process involves the following steps:

  • Removing the debris on top of the grate or around it.
  • Extracting all visible trash from the hole with a rake, pitchfork, or gloved hand.
  • And lastly, remove the sediment at the bottom of the pit with a shovel.

An easier way to do this is to hire a company specializing in catch basin cleaning. Their vacuum pumping trucks will clean the basin thoroughly in a few minutes. Enlisting the help of a professional is recommended if you have a problem with foul odors coming from the catch basin.

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The Importance of Catch Basin Cleaning

A catch basin (storm drain, storm sewer, or storm water drainage) is an essential part of the drainage system for your property and city. A catch basin is a hole in the storm drain system that opens out to the street. It has a curb inlet (metal grate at the street level) and a sump pump at the bottom.

The grate is designed to trap debris while the sump holds sediment. The catch basin also has inlet and outlet pipes on two opposing sides. It connects to the larger underground drainage system for your city. Its job is to maintain proper drainage on the street and your property.

storm-drain-cleaning-chicagoImportance of catch basins

  • Catch basins act as a pre-treatment phase in the storm drain/sewer system. They help to trap sediment and large debris that would have entered the system. Catch basins lower the risk of the sewer or drain system getting clogged and losing its effectiveness as a result. They preserve the function and structural integrity of the drainage/sewer system and reduce the cost of maintaining them.

  • Catch basins help prevent flooding on your property and street. By efficiently removing runoff as soon as it appears, catch basins keep rain or flood water from building up to the point where it pools on the street, parking lots, or on the landscaping.

  • They improve drainage on your property. For homes in areas with heavy rainfall and poorly drained soil, catch basins are vital for preserving the landscape. By serving as temporary rainwater reservoirs, they keep the soil from becoming soggy.

Common catch basin issues

Catch basins cause problems when they are not well maintained. Common catch basin issues are:

  • They attract pests. Catch basins make perfect nesting sites for rodents. The water inside them can also breed mosquitoes and attract other insects.

  • Catch basins will create sinkholes if their support base is eroded or the catch basin’s inlet and outlet pipes are allowed to collapse.

  • If a catch basin gets clogged with debris, it will encourage flooding in the surrounding areas.

But these problems can be prevented if the catch basin is cleaned periodically and maintained as expected.

Why clean the catch basin and how to do it

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Catch basin cleaning is a vital part of sewer system maintenance. This simple step will prevent storm sewer blockages that can cause expensive damage. Cleaning the catch basin also reduces the chances of pollutants finding their way into the community drinking water. Flooding along streets and parking lots is less likely if catch basins are clean.

Here is how to clean a catch basin. Prepare the required tools and items: thick rubber gloves, safety cones, reflective safety vest, catch basin lid puller, pitchfork, a long metal rod, long-handled broom with stiff bristles, and a shovel.

  1. Sweep away any debris around and on top of the grate. To open the grate, use the catch basin lid puller or a crowbar, making sure the grate doesn’t fall into the hole. If the lid is stuck, tap gently around the edges with a mallet.

  2. Depending on how deep or shallow the hole is, remove all visible trash/debris inside, including organic materials, with your gloved hand, rake, or pitchfork. Note that there might be dead animals inside the catch basin.

  3. After the debris is removed, dip a metal rod into the sediment until it reaches the bottom of the catch basin. If sediment is up to six inches below the lowest pipe in the catch basin or the sump is up to 60% full, it is time to clean out the sediment.

  4. Removing the sediment inside the catch basin is the hardest part of the job. For this, you need a shovel if the catch basin is shallow. But the best way to clean the catch basin is to have an expert remove the sediment with a vacuum pump truck.

  5. Check for structural issues. Look for signs of damage like cracked walls, falling mortar, or ill-fitting lids.

Note that after removing sediment from inside a catch basin, you cannot leave it lying on the street. The waste must be properly disposed of to keep it from going back into the drain system or constituting a health hazard. This is another good reason to let a professional handle this job.

Who is responsible for catch basin cleaning and how often should it be done?

If there is a catch basin located on your residential, commercial, or industrial property, it is your responsibility to keep it clean. If a catch basin is located on your property and you don’t keep it clean, you may become financially liable if the catch basin ends up polluting the environment.

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Given that catch basin blockages often don’t become apparent until after a storm, it makes sense to clean them in preparation for storms. The means following a schedule for catch basin cleaning service and the way to do this is to clean the catch basin at least once a year, usually after fall or winter.