Maintenance & Refurbishment


Drainage, Plumbing & Water Management Feature


kitchen plugholes, tenants are also disposing of items such as wet wipes, food and sanitary products down the drain. Despite some products being labelled as ‘flushable’, this simply means that


given enough force, they will flush – but it is unlikely that these items will biodegrade. Instead, when grease and food cools in the drainage system it congeals with these non-flushable items to form solid waste, or fatbergs, in the system, resulting in time-consuming and costly blockages. This type of blockage is easily and efficiently identified by the latest CCTV


equipment, and will be initially removed using high pressure water jetting which propels water at high speeds to clean surfaces and materials. For certain properties, electro-mechanical cleaning will be a more suitable option. This involves the use of a motorised tool which rotates a cable to clear the blockage, providing a handheld option. For larger blockages, combination tanker vehicles can be used to clear the issue. Using the data obtained, it is possible to keep a record of properties where the


problem is reoccurring. This means that rather than re-attending the same issue on a monthly basis, the underlying cause of the drainage is identified, allowing the drainage company to develop a plan of pre-planned drainage maintenance (PPM). This helps to ensure the problem is rectified, creating long-term cost savings for those managing the maintenance of housing developments. For instance, fatbergs forming can be avoided by installing a grease trapping unit which will prevent the grease from entering the system and sticking to the pipes.


FREEING UP BUDGETS ELSEWHERE Ensuring the correct maintenance of drainage is a crucial responsibility for providers. By appointing a drainage company that has state of the art reporting software, providers can keep costly repeat drainage problems to a minimum. Investigating and dealing with the cause of the issue rather than providing a quick fix will not only free up budget to be spent elsewhere, but also significantly improve tenant satisfaction.


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www.subscribepage.com/hmm 30 | HMM February/March 2020 | www.housingmmonline.co.uk


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