Whether you live in an old cottage or run a large commercial or public building, every property needs an effective drain and sewage system, otherwise you’re going to have problems.

The only difference between these examples is that if you neglect to maintain your drainage systems then the bigger the building, the bigger the nightmare and cost if it fails.

Drainage challenges with larger buildings

We look after a wide range of properties for clients: business premises such as hotels, care homes, and office blocks, both commercial and public sector.

Owners and managers can’t afford the disruption of having to close their doors to customers, employees or to the public whenever a blocked drain or sewer causes flooding, toilets back up or a persistent leak leads to structural damage.

But looking after a large premises, which may include more than one building within extensive grounds, can be a real challenge for a number of reasons.

Scale

Firstly, there’s the problem of size. Larger premises could contain hundreds of metres of drain and sewer pipes that must all be properly maintained.

The same interconnected system could service several buildings so in the event of a problem, locating the source will be an issue. Digging up long lengths of pipes to find a leaking joint or blocked section may be impractical as well as expensive.

Age

Many large buildings we look after are quite old and have drainage systems that show wear and tear or are additionally complex. They may not even be connected to a public sewer system so they rely on a septic tank, which should be emptied, cleaned out and maintained at routine intervals.

If they are old, you also need to ensure they can still cope with today’s flow rates, especially if the building they serve has been expanded or put to new uses over the years.

Septic tanks are also usually buried which makes them hard to access, adding to the challenge of ensuring that they function properly.

Heavy usage

Office blocks accommodating a large number of staff, and possibly the general public, are going to experience heavier use of toilets, sinks, even showers, which puts more demand on drains and sewers.

Toilets and sinks aren’t always treated with the respect they deserve. We find all sorts of things that shouldn’t have been flushed or poured down the sink when we get called out to clear blockages.

Environmental responsibility

Businesses and public bodies are often judged on their social responsibility, including how they protect the environment. Installing waste water filtration and recycling technology sends a message about your sense of responsibility towards the planet.

On the other hand, an incident of harmful flooding or pollution caused by faulty drains can earn your organisation some bad headlines and can even lead to prosecution.

A complete solution

Prevention is better than cure, especially for problems that could force you to suspend your operation for a period.

Putting a programme of regular surveys and maintenance in place ensures that potential problems are spotted early and dealt with. Remote-control CCTV technology, combined with pipe-lining technology, can also do away with the disruption of digging in order to find and fix a problem.

And should a blockage, leak or flood still occur, it helps to have the support of a fast and efficient call-out service at hand with the training and equipment to deal with any emergency.

They may be buried out of sight but drains and sewers still demand attention, and a little regular TLC can save you a big headache down the line.

Peace of mind with Drain and Sewer Services

At Drain and Sewer Services we offer a full range of drain repair services, including CCTV inspection and pipe relining to quickly find, assess and repair a problem.

We offer clients a comprehensive routine maintenance contract to take the worry out of managing a large property, as well as a 24-7 emergency service for worst-case scenarios.

Our specialist teams and in-house fleet of tankers and jet units make short work of blockages and floods of all sizes.

If you are responsible for a large property and want some peace of mind, call Drain and Sewer Services on 01252 312738 and talk to us about our maintenance packages, or email info@drainandsewer.co.uk to arrange a consultation.