Spring is a beautiful time of year – flowers bloom, the weather warms up, and many of us feel a sense of renewal. However, with this season comes the potential for heavy rainfall, which can cause damage to your property if your drainage system is not in good shape. This is why it’s important to include drainage system inspection and maintenance as part of your regular spring-cleaning routine.

Inspect your gutters this spring

Gutters play an important role in directing water away from your property, so it’s crucial to ensure they are functioning properly:

1. Start by removing any debris, such as leaves or branches, that may have accumulated in your gutters over the winter. This will prevent clogs and allow water to flow freely.
2. Next, inspect your gutters for any damage or signs of wear and tear. Check for cracks, holes, or sagging, and make any necessary repairs. If your gutters need replacement, it’s best to do so before any chance of heavy rainfall. You may also want to consider installing gutter guards to prevent debris from entering your gutters and causing clogs.
3. Additionally, consider the length and placement of your downspouts. Downspouts should direct water at least 10 feet away from your property to prevent water damage. If your downspouts are too short or too close to your home, consider extending them or relocating them to a more suitable location.

Spring drainage system inspection

In addition to inspecting your gutters, it’s important to check for clogs throughout your drainage system. Clogs can occur in pipes or drains and can prevent water from flowing properly, causing damage to your property. Look for signs of standing water, slow drainage, or unusual sounds coming from your pipes or drains. If you notice any of these signs, it’s likely that you have a blockage of some sort.

To remove superficial clogs, you can try using a plunger. If this doesn’t work, it’s best to call a professional to avoid causing further damage to the system.

Ensure proper drainage slope

Proper drainage slope is essential for ensuring that water flows away from your property. If the slope of your drainage system is not correct, water can pool near your home, causing damage to your foundation or basement. To check the slope of your drainage system, you can use a level or a surveying tool.

If you find that the slope is not correct, you may need to re-grade the area or install additional drainage systems. It’s best to consult with a professional landscaper or drainage system expert to determine the best course of action.

Domestic drainage problems

Failure to rectify a drainage problem quickly can result in flooding, leaks, foul odours, structural damage, or even contribute to problems such as damp. However, it’s not always obvious on the surface what the problem might be –  a property’s drainage system may have cracks, displaced joints, or suffer from root ingress if there are large trees nearby. These problems are impossible to detect without a  CCTV camera survey which is a great solution to easily diagnose hard to detect issues, and the results will allow a drainage engineer to decide on the best option for repair.

Pipe-relining, patching and milling

Patching, milling, and pipe re-lining are effective solutions for addressing specific problems in your drainage system:

• Patch repairs are ideal for short sections of damaged drains, where a fibreglass mat impregnated with a silicate resin is inserted into the drain over the affected area and pressurized against the wall of the drain with a packer.
• Milling machines, on the other hand, are designed to efficiently clean drains, removing soft blockages, scale and calcium build-up, tree roots, and concrete deposits. Failed liners and pipe imperfections can also be addressed through milling.
• Drain re-lining involves using a resin-impregnated felt material tailored to the specific length and thickness of the pipe which is pressurised with either water or air and left to cure. This new drain will not have any joints where roots can penetrate and is a guaranteed structural repair.

Ask for expert drainage advice

Prepping your drainage system for spring should be an essential part of any spring-cleaning routine. As UK weather continues to change with more bouts of extreme weather present across the country, it’s more important now than ever to ensure your drains are in good condition. If you notice any signs of drain damage, serious blockages, or you’re simply not sure what the problem might be – it’s always best to consult with a drainage expert like us.

Get in touch and we’ll be happy to help: 01268 950050