After some unseasonably warm days in February, our Great British weather snatched away any optimism we may have had that spring was close and took us back to winter, with strong winds and heavy rains. Culverts that had already been full of debris built up over the autumn and winter became further blocked as the wind and rain washed more rubbish and tree branches into them.

To help ensure that culverts do their jobs properly, our crews have been out and about visiting commercial and residential clients to clean out and maintain their culverts. It is important to get the work done before we get more serious rain later this spring.

What is a culvert?

In case you are wondering whether you have any on your property, a culvert is a tunnel that allows water flow under roads, railways, bridges or other structures. They can be built from a variety of materials and are integral to the wider drainage system.

Why cleaning culverts is important

Keeping culverts clear of debris and well maintained is essential to ensure water can flow through them quickly, reducing the risk of flooding. It’s also important so that culverts can be inspected easily for damage and repaired quickly.  As well as the risk of flooding, a collapsed culvert can cause severe, and expensive, damage to a road or structure above it.

How we clean culverts

When our crews are needed, we’ll respond quickly, offering a 24-hour emergency service, and we’re prepared for jobs of any size.

We can use a 32 -tonne tanker, armed with its mounted jetting and suction units which allows us to blast away the debris and use suction to remove standing water. However, if the culvert is smaller, or difficult to reach, we deploy our trailer mounted jet which is just as effective for smaller jobs and can also reach culverts down tracks or across rough terrain.

We have been successfully unblocking drains, culverts and gullies for more than 50 years. Find out how we can help you by calling our Aldershot office free on 01252 312738 or email info@drainandsewer.co.uk.