Practical tips for drain cleaning
Some tips for effective drain cleaning:
Soil type
The regularity of drain cleaning is highly dependent on the soil type. In ferrous soils in particular, the capacity of the drains to remove water is lowered considerably.
In general, the following applies:
| Soil type | Frequency of drain cleaning |
|---|---|
| Highly ferrous soil types | Annually |
| Sandy soils | Every two to three years |
| Clay soils | Every five to six years |
When should drains be cleaned?
A straightforward indicator for determining whether or not the drain pipes need to cleaned is to check how well the drains flow after a heavy rain shower. Flushing a drain when it’s not needed can damage the drain pipes and sheath.
The position of the suction hose
Look at the flow of water in the ditch. Never place the suction hose in the flow of contaminated water flowing out of the drain pipe.
High pressure at the cleaning nozzle
The quantity of water is important when cleaning drain pipes, not the (operating) pressure. Or looked at in another way, flushing is more important than spraying. A pressure of 10 bar at the cleaning nozzle is usually sufficient.
Drain hose
The recommendation is to enter the pipe quickly, say 25 to 30 metres per minute, and to withdraw more slowly, say 20 to 22 metres per minute. This approach is better at removing contaminants as the water has more time to release and remove them.
The drain pipe is clogged
In the event of a clogged drain pipe, it is important to locate the blockage. For this purpose, our special detection system exists: Proxus drainage detection.
Causes of poorly functioning drain pipes:
- Clogged holes in the pipe and/or sheath (e.g. due to iron deposits or soil particles)
- Contamination of the drain pipe due to soil particles, roots, etc.
- A buckled drain pipe (air inclusion) due to partial collapse or improper installation