Storm drains are slotted openings in gutters and streets that are designed to move excess ground and rainwater from paved streets, sidewalks, and parking lots to the underground plumbing system. While they don’t require a lot of maintenance, storm water drain cleaning is necessary once in a while. Here are some important things to know about storm water drain cleaning to prevent a backup of water from damaging your lawn, the street, or other infrastructure.
Clogged Storm Drains Can Cause Dangerous Driving Conditions
Storm drains that become clogged with leaves or debris can lead to an overflow of water on the street. This can cause dangerous driving conditions because vehicles can easily hydroplane on standing water or drivers may not be able to see an object under the water that could damage their cars. For this reason, if you see leaves or debris building up on a storm drain grate, clearing it off can help avoid these situations.
Flushing a Storm Drain Has Environmental Implications
Flushing a clogged storm drain is a common way to solve this issue, but because drainage systems direct rainwater into rivers and lakes, it is critical that only environmentally-safe products be used to flush them. Using a professional company that knows how to properly flush the storm water drains in your area will ensure it’s done properly with the health of the environment in mind.
Hydro-Jetting is an Effective Way to Clean Storm Drains
Rather than dump any chemicals down the storm drain to unclog it, whether the chemicals are environmentally-friendly or not, hydro-jetting can usually solve the problem without any chemicals at all. This is a process where high-pressure water is used to clear the storm drain and any debris in the area.
Cleaning a Storm Drain Prevents Damage to Your Property
In areas that get massive amounts of rain, overflowing storm drains can cause standing water on lawns or around houses. This can be a major issue, especially if the water doesn’t drain quickly enough after the rain stops. Water can get into your house through the foundation, which can then lead to mold, rotting wood, and damaged walls. Cleaning the storm drain regularly will prevent this from happening.
An Initial Inspection Can Determine the Root of the Problem
If you’re not sure what’s causing your storm drain to not work properly, have a professional come to your home and inspect it before trying any solution. This way, the professional can figure out what is actually causing the problem and fix that issue instead of just applying a temporary repair that may not work for long.
Get Your Drain Cleaned At Least Once a Year
Experts recommend that you clean your storm water drain at least once a year to make sure it is in perfect order for when there’s a major rainstorm. If you live in an area that is susceptible to heavy rain, you may want to get your storm cleaned, or at least inspected, more often.
Conclusion
You don’t really think about the storm drains in your area until there’s a problem, but by paying attention to them a little more often, you can avoid damage to your lawn and home and prevent dangerous driving conditions. Additionally, cleaning up debris around your home before it has a chance to clog the storm drain can help prevent these issues, too.
