Are your drain gullies working effectively?

As we entered 2024, the heavy rainfall and flooding across the country may have had you wondering… Are my drain gullies working effectively?

Whether domestic gullies or road gullies, it’s prudent to have your estate gullies serviced, emptied, and cleaned on a regular basis.

Gullies, domestic and commercial, are vital for waste and stormwater drains, especially mainline drains. Their primary purpose is to control surface water, usually rain, to prevent flooding. For this to work effectively and to prevent blocks and build-up, gullies and drains need to be sufficiently maintained.

As expected, the nature of the gullies' role in the drainage system traps large quantities of debris, grit, and sediment from other surfaces, including roofs. They work as a filter for the main sewer, preventing what they catch from entering the sewer system. They can also become blocked with rubbish, leaves, and mud.

Blocked drains increase the risk of flooding. This risk increases further at times of significant rainfall—sadly, many communities in the UK experienced this first-hand within the first two months of 2024.

Further, if rainwater is not properly discharged away from a property, it can seep into the fabric of the walls and promote decay and dampness at low levels. This may affect finishes such as plaster and paint, not to mention the stability of the building’s foundations. The risk of decay and dampness increases when the surface water seeps out of open joints and cracks in the drain close to the building.

You also won’t be shocked to learn that low temperatures and wind can exacerbate and cause many undesirable outcomes, including frost damage, the breaking down of bricks, and the lifting of concrete, slabs, and tarmac.

Clearing domestic sewage.

Blockages can sometimes be straightforward, often in the case of a domestic blockage where you are able to determine the exact position of the blocked drain. However, not all blockages can be cleared so easily. In the case of commercial and industrial drain blockages, we would always recommend seeking our professional support.

Promoting Preventative Measures

At ASL Limited, our ethos is about creating and promoting ‘preventative’ measures to improve the drainage system efficiencies. Check out our blog entitled 'Preventative Maintenance vs Reactive Maintenance'.

Adopting a preventative action plan for your drain gullies or road gullies has many benefits. Firstly, the gully will work efficiently and be less prone to regular or large blockages, which will also cause wear and tear in drains and the gully itself, leading to the risk of collapse. Inevitably, replacement gullies and drains take time and cost money, all adding to the current pressures in today’s economic climate.

In my experience, gulleys and drains that are well maintained and in good order keep themselves clean by the flow themselves. If the gulley is blocked with silt and sand, There is no flow! Therefore, the silt and sand settled in the pipe build up and up.
 
Furthermore, if you are an estates manager, you will be responsible for ensuring the gullies on your property are in safe, working order. As such, any blockages, flooding, or collapses will fall into your remit and will cost the business valuable time and money to fix. Working with an experienced specialist to adopt a regular service regime will offer you peace of mind.

Selecting your specialist provider

Once you have weighed the pros and cons of adopting a ‘preventative’ approach to your gully maintenance, you will need to consider which specialist you hire.
There are many factors to consider when choosing a competent provider. Price will undoubtedly be at the top of your list. However, we urge our customers to consider the ‘higher price’ they will pay by choosing an incompetent provider and what it will cost when things inevitably start to go wrong. Time is also money!

ASL Limited is a trusted specialist in what we do. With more than 40 years of operation and expansion, we are now the leading supplier of specialist teams to the private and industrial sectors in the South of England.

Our staff are motivated and passionate about their work. They appreciate the long-term benefits of the work they provide—the prevention of blockages and flooding, creating an improved environment for homeowners, private sector businesses, local authorities, and the local community.

There are many benefits to selecting ASL Limited as your preferred provider for your surface water drainage needs. To name just a few reasons:

• Highly competent and trained staff – experts in their field. ✓
• An experienced supervisor will oversee the project. ✓
• A large supply of heavy machinery. ✓
• The infrastructure to provide our customers with flexibility to meet their needs. ✓
• Emergency and same-day call-outs can be accommodated. ✓
• A conscious commitment to Health, Safety, and the Environment. ✓

By choosing ASL Ltd as their specialist provider, our customers can be confident that our highly dedicated team is equipped with the right knowledge from day one. Knowledge is our power, and it helps us deliver fast and productive work to our customer base.