OVERFLOWING DRAINS
If your toilet won’t flush or there is any sewer/wastewater overflowing on your property it is likely you have a blocked sewer, which is both inconvenient and also poses a health risk.
Sewer or wastewater blockages within a property boundary are the responsibility of the home owner to clear. Likewise, property owners are responsible for all private fittings and pipes on their property; including installation, repairs and maintenance and replacement of parts up to the sewer connection point.
A blockage or excess water in the sewer can lead to wastewater backflow through the overflow relief gully and into your garden or around your home. To safeguard your home from excess water in the sewer ensure water from roof downpipes and landscaping run off is not diverted into the sewerage system. Mackie Plumbing and Gas are experts in providing solutions to your run off problems for domestic and commercial properties as well as clearing blocked sewers.
Common Causes of Wastewater Overflows and blocked sewers;
- Tree Roots
- Fats or grease
- Foreign objects including rags, sanitary products, baby wipes and even children’s toys
- Inadequate maintenance of onsite sewer systems, tanks and drains
Overflow Relief Gully (ORG) / Disconnector Gully (DG)
Correctly installed and maintained an overflow relief/disconnector gully acts as emergency release points for sewerage blockages, protecting inside your home or property from sewer overflow. By law, the gully is required to be 150mm lowering than the lowest drain connection inside a property to allow an overflow to automatically flow outside, because let’s be honest overflowing sewerage is much preferable outside than inside your home! Property owners are responsible for maintaining their sewers and ensuring their overflow relief gully is in working order. Non-compliant gully installations could potentially void insurance claims for any damages caused, if you have concerns your drains or gully are not properly installed contact Mackie Plumbing to conduct a site inspection.
Your ORG/DG should be installed so that;
- It is not covered by any household items, including garden pots or landscaping that could prevent it working in an emergency.
- The grate is able to pop off, if corrosion, silt, debris, stones of concrete are preventing this your gully requires maintenance work/servicing
- It is not located in an area where rainwater pools or overflows
- Is not connected to stormwater down pipes
Reporting and Long Term Solution for your Drains
Not only can Mackie Plumbing clear your drains we also have the means provide you with concise reporting on the integrity of the drains and the best long term solution to avoid repeat clearing. Our drain clearing experts are well aware that the general home owner knows very little about their drains and will speak to you using words and information that you understand. To help you out see below frequently used drain lingo.
Inspection Opening (IO)
Inspection Openings are covered holes in sewer pipes allowing access inside a pipe to clear blockages and are usually located where a pipe exits a building, changes direction, before a septic tank or at regular points along a pipe.
Inspection Shaft (IS)
A shaft in the line of the sanitary drain for the purpose of inspection and access for drain clearing.
Branch Drain
Section of drain intended to receive discharge of fixture pipes, but has a lower fixture loading than the main drain at its point of connection.
For all your plumbing and blocked drain requirements contact Mackie Plumbing for fast and immediate relief