For property owners and managers, a blocked drain rarely happens at a convenient time. There’s a tenant to contact, access to arrange, belongings to work around and, if the problem is urgent, potentially an expensive emergency callout.
That’s why an empty property can be the ideal time to get on top of drainage issues.
When no one is living there or your commercial tenancy is empty , a plumber can properly inspect and test the drainage system without needing to work around a tenant’s schedule or belongings. Water can be run through fixtures, gullies and floor wastes can be checked, and the drainage system can be tested to establish what’s actually happening.
If a property has a history of blockages, a vacancy is also a good opportunity to investigate the underlying issue before the property is occupied again. A camera inspection of the main drain can reveal problems that aren’t visible from the surface, while existing blockages can be cleared when floors are bare and access is straightforward.
It’s also worth keeping a record of what was found. A baseline inspection gives you something to refer back to if the same drain causes trouble in the future. Instead of starting from scratch, you have a clearer picture of the property’s drainage history and any issues that have previously been identified.
A Few Details Can Change the Job
If you manage properties, there are a few simple details that can be helpful to your plumber when you make the call.
Is it one fixture or several?
A single slow basin may indicate a local blockage, while a toilet, shower and floor waste all backing up at the same time could point to an issue further along the main drainage line.
Is water coming up somewhere it shouldn’t?
An overflowing external gully or water rising through a floor waste can provide useful clues about where the problem may be occurring within the drainage system.
Has it happened before?
Recurring blockages can sometimes indicate an underlying issue. Sharing the property’s drainage history gives your plumber more information to work with, helping them investigate the cause rather than simply clearing the immediate blockage.
Are access details clear?
Knowing who can provide access and when can make a big difference. Having the right access arrangements in place can help get the job completed in one visit and avoid unnecessary return trips.
Do You Know Where Your Responsibility Ends?
One thing many property owners don’t realise is that responsibility for drainage can change once private pipework connects to the wider sewer network.
That means it’s useful to establish where the problem is located before assuming that a repair is your responsibility or arranging work on the wrong section of the system. Understanding the property’s drainage layout and knowing where private infrastructure connects to the wider network can help make the process much clearer.
If your property is currently vacant, it can be a good time to inspect the drainage system, address existing problems and identify potential issues before tenants move back in.
Get in touch HERE with the O’Brien Plumbing Perth team today, or contact us via:
Call: 08 9200 6653
Email: [email protected]