Are you planning a renovation on your property? Does this involve adding or moving plumbing pipes? If so, then you may need a plumbing team to perform accurate drain mapping on your property.
Typically, drain mapping is done by the drainage plumber Brisbane locals use and involves identifying where the existing pipes are and where they should be moved to. If you think you may need this service, but you’re not sure what it involves, then this post is for you. Keep reading as we explore the basics of drain mapping.
Make Plumbing Simpler and More Effective
Traditional plumbing can be very complex, especially since it involves finding buried pipes and then excavating the area around them to get to the actual pipe. Fortunately, advancements in modern plumbing are making jobs easier and more effective. One of these modern advancements includes drain mapping. Our team have highlighted a few pointers that you should know about this process.
1. Understand What Drain Mapping Involves
As the name suggests, drain mapping refers to the process of finding and documenting the layout of the underground drainage systems on your property. Needing to repair or replace damaged or old pipes, or moving them as part of a remodel, are the main reasons why you may need to know exactly where your drains and plumbing pipes are.
The drain mapping process involves combining advanced plumbing tools with technology such as sonar tracing and CCTV cameras to create an updated and detailed schematic plan for your drains.
Information you can expect to find from this process includes the following:
- Connections to current external systems
- Assessing problem areas such as misaligned joints, blockages, and cracks
- Checking pipe locations and depths
Since drain mapping is non-invasive and highly accurate, it’s an ideal service for architects, builders, developers, and property owners. Having a detailed outline of where your drainage system is provides you with precise drainage data that can be used for maintenance or future construction projects.
2. Can be Used for Many Applications
Drain mapping isn’t just for large commercial spaces. Any space that has a drainage system should be mapped out before any new work or renovations are done. Your local drainage plumber can use the drain mapping process for the following applications:
- Repairs and renovations of residential properties
- Renovation and construction projects
- Diagnosing recurring issues
- Ensuring compliance during property sales
3. Quicker Process than Traditional Sourcing Methods
There’s no speedy way to locate your plumbing and drainage system. However, it’s essential to point out that modern drain mapping can be done within a few hours. The exact time required depends on the size and complexity of your property.
Your drainage plumber will provide you with a more accurate time frame once they have done an initial assessment of your property. It’s a good idea to schedule your drain mapping in advance to have the results in time for the start of your construction project.
4. Many Benefits of Drain Mapping
Several benefits make drain mapping an effective plumbing service to invest in. The most common of these include the following:
- Prevents excavation damage: Knowing exactly where all water and sewage pipes are located will reduce the likelihood of accidentally damaging them during construction or landscaping projects.
- Resolves ongoing drainage issues: Recurring drain problems are an indication that there’s a more serious blockage further down the pipe. It may also be a sign that the pipe is damaged. You won’t know this unless you map the drain to assess exactly where the issue is. This will also enable plumbers to perform a more effective repair.
- Ensures Compliance: If your drainage system hasn’t been maintained in several years, there’s a very real possibility that your drainage system is no longer compliant. Having the drain mapped will enable plumbers to assess which parts need to be repaired, relined, or even replaced to meet local guidelines and regulations.
- More effective planning for upgrades: Drain mapping makes it easy to find the best locations for capacity upgrades and extensions.
- Can easily reach narrow and confined spaces: CCTV drain equipment can be used in the smallest and most confined spaces. Using a remote system makes the process safer than manual excavations or entering municipal drains directly.
- CCTV drain surveys provide superior accuracy: Using CCTV cameras to do the mapping ensures that the drain is mapped in three dimensions, which allows plumbers to provide more accurate and detailed reports for developers and architects.
- Creates less disruption to your home and garden: CCTV drain surveys don’t require any digging or trenching. This means that your property’s landscaping remains undamaged.
Final Thoughts
Drain mapping is an effective way to establish exactly where your drainage system is. This information is helpful when you’re planning renovations, such as changing your bathroom or kitchen plumbing in a remodel. The CCTV technology is also a simple way to assess where blockages and potentially cracked and damaged pipes are, making potential repairs easier and more long-term.