Drainage excavation is always the last resort when no other method for drain repair is feasible. It involves physically excavating a trench or hole to the collapsed or malfunctioned drainage, with the probability of destroying whatever is on top of the problem area. There are cases of severe drainage complications that certainly aren't possible to repair without excavating right down to it. In these situations, probably the drain is too old and in a dilapidated condition, with several leaks, or may have broken down altogether. In some instances, the drain might have suffered from flooding or subsidence, or it may be totally clogged by tree roots. Here's a step-by-step guideline employed by plumbing contractors when performing a drain excavation job.
Site assessment
Drainage excavation is costly, and the last thing any property owner would want to hear is that digging a hole or trench wasn't necessary in the first place. Therefore, plumbing contractors have to carry out a pre-excavation diagnosis of the site to establish that no other drain repair method is feasible save for drain excavation. Having determined that it's necessary, the next step is determining the precise location of the problem to avoid the likelihood of digging the wrong place. Moreover, drainage pipes are usually closely adjacent to other service connections such as water, gas and electricity; therefore, these ought to be identified and noted in the plan.
Safety
Drainage excavation poses a lot of safety hazards, both for the plumbing contractors and passers-by. Apart from the several service connections stated above, there is always the danger of subsidence if the soil is unstable and constantly wet. For large excavations, contractors often set up suitable shoring mechanisms and barricades.
Digging
Though there's always the option of using mini excavators, excavating by hand is by and large the safest and least unsettling digging method, especially in areas where there are pipes transporting other utilities including gas, water and electricity.
Storage
In most cases, the dug soil is employed for backfilling once the repair is done. Therefore, adequate space needs to be provided in order to store it safely and maintain its dryness. If not, the dug soil should be disposed of sensibly.
Restoration
Any details concerning the post-repair restoration of the site would have already been captured in the initial plan. The dugout should be filled such that no risk of subsidence should occur later on, while concrete, poles and tiles must be substituted in a like-for-like fashion.
For further questions or to have your drains excavated, contact a representative from a company like Minpex Drainage.
