VIEWPOINT
MAINTAINING CHANNEL DRAINS IS CRITICAL
Angus Crichton, house and garden marketing manager at ACO
EACH AUTUMN, FALLEN leaves, debris, and heavy rainfall start to fill drains, which is why maintaining channel drains is critical for effective drainage. When rainwater lands on a paved area, it picks up silt, leaves, litter, and other debris. While gratings on drains filter out larger items, smaller particles can still wash through into the channel, particularly during heavy rain. Gradually, these build-ups reduce the volume available for water flow, increasing the risk of channel overflow. This is especially important where a channel drain is protecting a property entrance or driveway. Setting up drainage systems with easy maintenance in mind starts at installation, using key features like sumps and, for ACO’s slot channels, access covers. When leaves collect on grates, they can often be removed without much effort. However, when debris passes through and collects in the channel itself, clearing it will require lifting the grating and removing the build up of material in the channel. ACO’s grating lifting tool reduces the risk of damaging gratings when lifting them.
If channel systems are not designed with maintenance in mind, the risk of the system clogging is higher. If this happens, the contractor may have to return to the customer, and this at significant cost. Instead, merchants can advise on and supply important parts that enable maintenance: • Sumps with all channel systems: Sumps, located at the channel run’s outlet, trap silt and other debris before it enters the onward drainage system. These sumps need periodic cleaning out. • Access covers with Brickslot channels: Once the Brickslot cover is installed in the paving,
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it is impossible to access the channel for maintenance unless access covers are installed. Without access covers, the only way to clear a blockage is to dig up the surrounding paving. See below for more details on installation and maintenance. Merchants should advise customer to install channel drains at the edge of a driveway and connect it to an underground soakaway. Without a sump and regular maintenance, several risks are incurred: • Silt could clog the soakaway, reducing rainwater capacity, potentially requiring costly excavation and cleaning out. • Blockages might prevent water flow, causing overflow beyond the property’s boundary and possible compliance issues with local planning regulations.
Maintaining channels Brickslot channels offer a minimalist design, with only a 10mm slot visible on the surface. To facilitate maintenance, access covers must be installed at regular intervals and after every change in direction. In addition, an access cover with a sump below must be installed at the outlet, allowing the insert tray to be lifted and debris cleared from the sump.
For ACO HexDrain Brickslot channels, corner units serve as access points.
Maintenance steps include:
• Using access cover lifting tools: Insert each tool at either end of the slot in the cover and rotate to secure under the insert tray, lifting carefully. These tools support the tray, which may be heavy due to paving material and otherwise can be damaged while lifting out. • Clearing debris from the channel and sump: Once the tray is removed, any debris in the channel or silt bucket can be cleared.
• Flushing channels: A garden hose or pressure washer can remove debris through the slot. For compacted debris, a blunt tool, like a screwdriver, can help. • Replacing components: After a second cleaning, the silt bucket should be placed back in the sump, and insert trays carefully lowered back into position using the lifting tools.
Builders merchants can help ensure contractors and
customers understand the importance of including sumps, access covers, and lifting tools to install channel drains with maintenance in mind.
By regularly removing debris from channels and sumps, customers can maintain effective drainage, ready for any rainfall. Merchants play an essential role in helping customers design and maintain drainage systems prepared for long-term use. BMJ
www.buildersmerchantsjournal.net December 2024
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