Sewer Drain Inspection Checklist and Guide

Drain inspection refers to a process that involves the evaluation of drainage systems to ensure smooth and systematic wastewater transitions from pipelines to sewage systems. It is performed to prevent unexpected drainage issues from happening. These issues can include frost, corrosions, pipe cracks, and major cracks, including food waste, toilet paper buildup, or tree roots.

Importance Of Drain Inspection

Drain inspections are as necessary as any other inspection because they help to avoid potential risks such as floods, leaks, and other issues that concern the health and safety of people. If done properly, drain inspection helps to:

• Identify initial problems so that they can be eliminated in time without dealing with expensive repairs.
• Avoid the hassle of waste clogs and slow water drainage.
• Minimize the risk of broken and damaged drainage systems and pipelines.
• Promote and maximize environmental safety.

What Is A Drainage Inspection Checklist?

A drainage inspection checklist serves as a tool that trained engineers, drainage inspectors, or licensed inspectors use for ensuring the good health of drainage systems. It is accompanied by a drain camera that is used to record all areas that are damaged or have defects such as pipeline leaks and drain line clogs.

Drainage Assessment Checklist

• Look for evidence of ponding, channeling, erosion, or any other issue.
• Look for any accidental spillages, poor water, oils, insects, or odors.
• Check is any safety or health risk is identified.
• Inspect for deterioration in the surface.
• Check for accumulation of sediment at inlets.
• Inspect if there is any surface clogging.
• See if the porous or permeable surface needs sweeping to eliminate silt.
• Look for proof of accumulation of litter in the drainage system.
• Check there are no blockages or clogging at the outlets of drainage system paths.
• See if there is a growth of weed or any plant that is causing a blockage.
• Check if any area requires mowing, pruning, or weeding.
• Inspect whether any weirs or check dams are in poor condition.
• See is the system is damaged due to an accident.
• Check for unauthorized flows and cross-connections.
• Look for flow control tampering.

Residential Drain Inspection

In residential areas, blocked drains can cause a lot of trouble. It can disturb your peace while you are at home. Therefore, it is suggested to make sure that you do regular inspections of your drainage system to make sure everything is fine.

Video Pipe Inspections

It is a technology that allows plumbers, drain inspectors, and engineers to inspect the drain system by using a remote control video camera. It is sent deep inside them waterlines and pipes. After positioning it where required, the area can be examined clearly to inspect issues.

These issues might include anything from scum or food clogs, corrosion, or roots of trees that are infiltrating the plumbing system. A video pipe inspection enables you to spot problems that are disturbing and interrupting smooth drainage operations.

Sewer Video Inspections

The sewer line video inspection is performed by using a camera that is attached to a snake line. If your house has sewer issues like clogs, you might be able to recognize signs before it becomes way too worse. For instance, you might notice slow drainage or toilet backing up when you flush it. If any of this happens, know that you are in dire need of sewer inspection.

How Do You Use A Drain Inspection Camera?

Drain inspection cameras prove to be of great help when you need to provide proof of the depth and scope of the problem in your drainage system. A video camera aims to identify what is causing the backup or blockage within the pipe. It is easier than digging up your entire yard and find out the issue. This camera is sent down the pipe to analyze the situation down there and see what can be done to fix it. It saves you from costly damages and repairs.

What Is A Drain Survey?

Drain survey refers to the process of in-depth inspection of the drain system. It involves high technology CCTV cameras that are employed inside your drains. These cameras provide live-feedback and help plumbers and drain engineers to obtain a clear picture of what is causing problems so they can act accordingly.

Major Causes of Drainage Blockages

The maintenance of the drain system is important for keeping your business from major issues caused by unfiltered chemicals, sullage, odor promoting issues, and drain line leaks. Here are some most common causes of blockages in drain system:

Industrial Wastes

Waste of industries such as toxic chemicals and materials can become a major reason for drain system blockage. It is advised not to flush off chemical waste that is created during the production processes as they can cause damage to your drainage system and cause sewage blockage leading to environmental pollution.

Sanitary Wastes

Waste materials such as tissues, hair strands, and products of feminine hygiene usually become major reasons for why your toilet drain gets blocked. Not being able to control sanitary waste disposal can lead to business fines and heavy penalties, as stated by the Environmental Protection laws.

Liquid Wastes

Fats, oil, sludges, wastewater, or stubborn grease that goes down your sink gets installed on the insides of your pipes, and with time, they can build up, leaving no space for liquid. This can lead to health risks because it creates disgusting and weird odors. That is why it is important to manage liquid wastes carefully.

Food Wastes

Food waste can create lots of troubles down there. If you are used to throwing food items directly down your sink, you make a huge mistake. You are creating issues for yourself because later, all that food waste will require a costly drainage system repair. Also, it will lead to delays and downtimes in your business.

Plant Matter

You might already know that roots of trees can grow inside your water pipes also shrubs, leaves, and dirt can cause drainage system problems. This can lead to pipeline damage and prevent smooth water flow.

12 Effective Tips to Prevent Drainage Blockage

Maintaining your drainage system is very important for preventing dammed and blocked channels that lead to overbank flooding, sedimentation, and unexpected erosion. If you fail to do so, it can affect your business’s performance. You might have to deal with costly repairs, heavy penalties, and loss of property. However, you can avoid these things if you ensure regular inspection of your drainage system using a drain inspection checklist. Make sure you consider these preventative maintenance tasks:

• Avoid flushing toilet paper, non-biodegradable material, or napkins down your toilet drains.
• Ensure the installation of mesh screen on the top of your drains for filtering solid wastes and hair strands.
• Ensure using water softener to avoid mineral build-up.
• Make use of a fat trap for fats and waste oils.
• Make sure you do not dispose of any unused medicines. It can harm and pollute underground water and will become toxic to the environment.
• Avoid using your drains as a trash can.
• When you wash cleaning tools and mops, make sure you rinse and scrub off the dirt before washing them in your sink.
• If you accidentally put a sloid item down your drain, report it to the concerned department immediately.
• Use grills to cover drain openings. It will help you to filter plant material.
• In the case of sheet ice formation, excavate it as soon as possible and allow the water to flow away from the area of the road.
• Beware of the map of your drainage system and perform regular maintenance.

How To Report Drainage Inspections Effectively?

The drainage inspection report allows trained engineers to analyze the situation and condition of drainage systems. It helps to prevent drain system damages and finding out reasons for the blockage. Here is how you can report Drainage Inspections:

Straightforward And Concise

It is necessary to create a detailed report to understand the problem, its cause, and the necessary solutions. Making a paper-based report can be time taking. Therefore using a CMMS for making a drainage system report is better. It helps create a concise and straightforward report, record visual reports, and evidence in minimum time.

Easy Distribution

Creating a report, recording all findings, and distributing it within the company can be a difficult task. It is a long process and requires too much effort. There is more room for mistakes when you manually record things. A CMMS allows easy sharing of reports in real-time so that every concerned individual is aware of the situation. Moreover, storing all your data in one place allows easy access whenever required.

Assign Corrective Actions In Real-Time

Drainage inspections aim to minimize the risk of costly repairs, property damages, downtimes, and delays. Using paper and pen might take you longer than required to assign what actions must be taken by which personal to deal with the problem. A software can help you to perform inspections using a mobile device and assign corrective actions in real-time.

Keeping Track Of Scheduled Drainage Inspection

Drainage inspection can sometimes get ignored. They can later turn into serious problems, including downtimes, repairs, and delays in business operations. Using a CMMS allows you to keep track of drainage inspections as it notifies you about scheduled inspection every time. It enables you to identify safety risks and take proactive actions in time to eliminate these problems.