Grit traps, gutters and downpipes must all be cleaned regularly, but how often and who is responsible varies.
Nobody wants any trouble, but if you cut corners when it comes to the important things, that’s exactly what you’ll get. Maintenance and cleaning of sand traps, roof drains and gutters are among the things that can quickly become costly if not taken seriously. That’s why we’ve put together a simple guide to how often the work needs to be done and who’s responsible for ensuring it gets done.
Why do we clean sand traps?
A sand trap is a filtration device for drains, gullies and grates located on roads and streets throughout the country. Its function is to separate dirt and gravel from the water flowing down, which then collects at the bottom of the gully, allowing the water to flow on through the system. It is absolutely essential that the water is allowed to flow freely out of the catch basins. If the outlet becomes blocked, this could lead to surface water flooding and cause significant damage to the surrounding area, the environment, property and pipework.
There are several factors that determine how often a sand trap needs to be cleaned. Among other things, its location on the site, whether a lot of grit has been spread during the winter season, and the volume of traffic passing over the trap are all important points to consider. If you are unsure, VITEK’s expert staff can carry out an inspection and assessment, and work with you to draw up an agreement for regular cleaning of the sand trap.
A rule of thumb is that you should empty the sand trap once it has reached 50 per cent of its maximum storage capacity, so that you always have a little leeway in case there are any variations in the amount of sand and gravel, or if delays occur.
Find out who is responsible
Housing cooperatives and private property owners are responsible for emptying and cleaning sand traps. If a sand trap causes problems in the form of flooding or environmentally harmful discharges, the owners responsible for the sand trap will be liable for compensation or, in the worst case, fined.
Blocked gutters and downpipes can prove costly
Gutters and downpipes are occasionally required to drain large amounts of water in a short space of time, so it is absolutely vital that they are free of dirt and debris that could block the waterways. Blocked gutters can lead to unpleasant – and costly – damp and water damage. The cost of cleaning gutters and downpipes is therefore a small price to pay, compared to the potential bill that could be lurking if you were to neglect this task. In most cases, insurance companies will not cover damage resulting from uncleaned gutters, so it’s important to be extra vigilant here.
An annual clean-out, ideally in the autumn once the leaves have really started to build up in the gutters, is the minimum required to avoid problems with blocked gutters. Remove leaves, dirt, twigs, birds’ nests or any build-up of moss and similar debris.
Cleaning gutters and downpipes should be a natural part of the routine maintenance work carried out by the caretaker or others responsible for operations in housing cooperatives and co-ownerships. If you own a detached house or a semi-detached house (or if there are several of you sharing a house), you should agree in advance who is responsible for cleaning the gutters. If a gutter has become blocked on your «neighbour’s side», but you share the guttering system, this can have major consequences for you as well.
Do you have any further questions about emptying and cleaning sand traps, gutters or downpipes? Please get in touch with us at VITEK, we’d be happy to help!