What Is Drain Mapping?
Drain mapping is a type of drain survey, but it’s probably one you’re less familiar with. If drain mapping isn’t something you know about, then never fear, as the team here at Power Rod are here to help.
This month, we’ll be taking a look at what drain mapping is, how it’s carried out, why you might need it and what the benefits are.
By the end of this article, we hope you’ll have a better understanding of what the service is and how it can be useful in a number of different situations.
What is drain mapping?
Drain mapping is a type of drain survey that reveals the location of your drains along with other factors such as the depth they lie at, where wastewater flows and where the connection points are. This survey is then used to create the ‘map’ part of the service, providing a comprehensive layout of your system.
How is drain mapping carried out?
There can be several different ways to approach drain mapping – including tracing the water flow and dye testing – but nothing is as accurate or comprehensive as CCTV technology. This is a less intrusive way of establishing where your drains are and where they flow to – it can even provide high-quality imagery of the condition of your drains.
A skilled drainage technician is required to carry out this survey, since it uses state-of-the-art equipment to provide a thorough picture.
Why do I need drain mapping?
Drain mapping might not be something you’ve heard a lot about, but there are a variety of scenarios where you might need it – providing useful information in the following situations:
- When you want to carry out building work – If you’re planning an extension on your property or any other type of major building work that would disturb the ground around your property, then a layout of your drainage system will be needed. Knowing where the pipework is and how close it is to the surface will give you (or your builders) the scope to work with before carrying out repairs that might damage the system.
- When buying a house – A homebuyer’s drain survey can sometimes be enough, but for a thorough picture of where the drains on a property you want to buy – as well as the condition they are in – drain mapping can be extremely useful. You may even find that a building surveyor recommends this in order to help approve your purchase.
- If you have a commercial property – All of the above applies to commercial premises as well, but drain mapping for commercial land could also be a key component of your duties as a site manager. You’ll be better aware of your system and how it can handle any spills or potential flooding – something that is important for environmental purposes.
What are some of the other benefits of drain mapping?
Drain mapping isn’t always a requirement for everyone, but it does have some additional benefits that may make it more worthwhile if you’re considering it, including:
- For older properties, where you may be unsure of how the drains have been developed.
- For blockages, where you may need more information to solve and prevent faults.
- To improve efficiency, where you need to make adjustments to better help your drains to cope.
- For a permanent record, where you may need to reference the drainage layout for future works or for selling the property.
Whether you’re interested in CCTV drain surveys, home buyer drain surveys or commercial drain maintenance, here at Power Rod we have the expertise and the technology to provide a thorough and professional service. Operating through Hertfordshire and Buckinghamshire – including Watford and Aylesbury – simply give our team a call to discuss drain mapping and surveys today.