Case Study:Rapid Resolution of Complex Gutter and Drain Blockages Using Advanced Technologies

Like many of our projects, this job was undertaken at the request of an existing client. Spectrum had already carried out a few maintenance jobs on the building and so the client was aware of the high quality of our work and our expertise in access and cleaning.

The Project

The client asked Spectrum to carry out gutter cleaning on the property. They also wanted our operatives to investigate a number of issues with the downpipes on the building. The downpipes appeared to be blocked and were overflowing. This was beginning to cause serious maintenance issues so it was important the problem was identified and addressed as quickly as possible.

As the works were urgent, it was important that all cleaning and investigation works were completed in one day.

The Site

The site we were asked to work on was a large building with several downpipes. The base of the downpipes was below ground level, and so specialist equipment was required in order to work out exactly what was going on.

The Logistics

The main logistical issue with this project was accessing the gutters and drains below ground level. Our operatives have an in-depth understanding of how drainage systems work, and so knew accessing these underground sections was important to the success of the project.

In order to complete the gutter cleaning and drainage investigation to a high standard, we brought two specialist pieces of equipment onto the site: drain jetting equipment and CCTV drain survey equipment.

Generally, you would not expect to see these specialist tools on a project of this type. However, as we have significant expertise and experience in all aspects of drain cleaning and maintenance, our operatives have a variety of specialist tools and equipment available to them. This allows us to provide a more rounded and more thorough service than companies that only specialise in cleaning.

The drain jetting equipment was used for cleaning the drains and unblocking the base of the downpipes as they go below ground level. The CCTV drain survey equipment was brought to the site to allow our operatives to inspect the pipework below ground level. This would allow our team to check for any stubborn blockages and assess the pipes for other maintenance issues.

In order to carry out the work on the site, our teams required a range of specialist skills and training. Where appropriate, our operatives had worked at height and had harness training, CCTV drain survey training and training in drain unblocking and maintenance.

End-to-End Gutter Cleaning Services

During the winter months, rainfall in the UK dramatically increases. In January, an average of 83mm of rainfalls across the country, though some areas can see far more. A lot of drainage and guttering systems can struggle to cope with this sudden downpour and so blockages and flooding issues are common during the winter months. This is why it is so important for property owners and management companies to ensure their drainage and guttering systems are in good working order before the winter sets in.

The first task our team had to tackle after arriving on-site was the cleaning of the gutters. Our operatives have extensive experience in accessing and cleaning gutters and were able to work quickly and efficiently to remove all debris from the system.

Once the gutters were clear of debris and dirt, we checked the drainage system to make sure everything was working properly. It was during this part of the process that we found the downpipes were still blocked and overflowing. This was unusual as we could see that they were clear of debris and should have been working smoothly.

Unlike gutter cleaning companies that only specialise in clearance, our teams have expertise in all aspects of gutter maintenance. This means that, when faced with an issue like the one on this site, they’re able to use specialist equipment to get to the root cause of the problem. 

Our operatives suspected that the main blockage was located in the base of the downpipes. In order to resolve this issue, we used drain jetting equipment to clean the base of the downpipes. This allowed us to ensure the rainwater from the gutters was able to flow without restriction. This in turn prevented the downpipes from overflowing and allowed the drainage system to operate as it should.

Once the cleaning work was complete, we used the CCTV drain survey equipment to show the client that the pipes were completely clear for 14 meters from the ground level height. This reassured the property owner that there were no blockages in the system and the issue was fixed for good.

Normally, carrying out a CCTV drain survey is expensive. Drain cleaning can also be expensive. As a result, it is very uncommon for these services to be used during a gutter cleaning project. However, as Spectrum has expertise and experience in both drain cleaning and gutter maintenance, we were able to offer the services as part of our gutter cleaning work.

Our fully trained team brought specialist Spectrum equipment to the site and were able to carry out all of the work quickly and efficiently. As we look after a lot of the maintenance at this property, we offered our client additional services at no extra cost.

The Results

By the end of the day, we had successfully cleaned the gutters and the downpipes and removed all blockages from the system. This left the drains in excellent working order and ensured that overflowing downpipes caused no more issues at the property.

Get in Touch

“This is a great case study that reflects our values and what we are really about. When problems occur on a site, most contractors will spot an opportunity for additional charges, we saw this as an opportunity to really help our client and give something back. The additional services offered that day would have amounted to over £2,000. Helping and giving is what makes everything we do more fun, builds deeper and more meaningful relationships, it doesn’t always have to be about the money.” 
-Managing Director Lucian