Pitch fibre drains were formerly a popular choice for both home and business drainage systems, but now property owners and drainage professionals are worried about them. These drains, which were put in a lot in the middle of the 20th century, have turned out to be less lasting and more trouble than expected. This long post will go into great detail on the history, features, problems, and possible solutions related to pitch fibre drains. This will give you a full grasp of this crucial part of property management.
Pitch fibre drains first appeared in the 1950s and 1960s as a cheap alternative to clay or concrete pipes. To make pitch fibre pipes, wood cellulose fibres were soaked in coal tar pitch, which formed a light and strong material. The procedure of making them entailed wrapping layers of pitch-coated paper around a mandrel, which made the pipes easy to handle, cut, and put together.
When they first came out, pitch fibre drains were praised as a groundbreaking way to improve drainage systems. Developers and homeowners liked them since they were more cheaper to make and put up than clay or concrete ones. Pitch fibre pipes were particularly popular because they were light, which made them easier to move and work with on construction sites.
But as time went on, the problems and limitations of pitch fibre drains became more and more clear. One of the main problems with these pipes is that they might get worse with time. When some chemicals come into contact with the pitch-impregnated fibres, they can break down. This is especially true for chemicals present in household cleaners and detergents. This process of breaking down can cause a lot of difficulties, such as pipes bending, breaking, and getting blocked.
Pitch fibre drains are easy to break because of how they are built. Pitch fibre pipes can easily change shape, unlike clay or concrete pipes, which keep their shape under pressure. This deformation often shows up as the pipe’s cross-section becoming flatter or more oval, which can greatly lower its flow capacity and make it more likely to get blocked. The pipe may entirely collapse in the worst situations, which would cause the drainage system to fail completely.
Another big problem with pitch fibre drains is that they tend to becoming brittle over time. Over time, the pipes can become less flexible and more likely to crack and break. Ground movement, root growth, and temperature fluctuations all put stress on the pipe structure, making it even more fragile. Cracks let tree roots in, which makes the drainage system more weaker.
There are more than just structural challenges with pitch fibre drains. These pipes are also likely to get internal scaling, which is when mineral deposits build up on the inside of the pipe. This scaling can make the pipe’s inside diameter much smaller, which slows down the flow and raises the chance of obstructions. Also, the rough surface that scaling leaves behind is a great place for debris to collect, which makes drainage problems even worse.
Finding pitch fibre drains can be hard for homeowners because they are often buried underground. There are, however, a few clues that these pipes might be causing problems. If you have drainage problems that keep happening, including sinks and toilets that don’t drain quickly or that become blocked up a lot, this could be a sign. If you see wet spots in the garden or smell bad smells around the drain covers, it could be a sign that the pitch fibre drains are broken. Sometimes, collapsed pitch fibre pipes can cause sinkholes or sinking in the yard or driveway.
There are a number of possible remedies for property owners who have pitch fibre drains. The best thing to do will depend on how bad the damage is and what the property is like. It could be possible to reline the pipes that are already there in some circumstances. This procedure puts a new lining into the old pipe, making a “pipe within a pipe.” This can help fix the drainage system’s structure without having to dig up a lot of dirt.
If the pitch fibre drains are really badly broken, they may need to be completely replaced. This means digging up the damaged portions and putting in new pitch fibre pipes made of stronger materials like PVC or clay. This choice is more expensive and intrusive, but it solves the difficulties that come with pitch fibre drains for good.
Preventive maintenance can also be very important for keeping pitch fibre drains in good shape. Cleaning and checking the drainage system on a regular basis might help you find problems before they get worse. Pitch fibre pipes will last longer if you don’t use harsh chemical cleaners and are careful about what you flush down toilets and sinks.
It is very important to get professional help while working with pitch fibre drains. Drainage specialists can use specific tools like CCTV cameras to do detailed examinations of the pipes and suggest the best ways to fix any problems they find. They can also help you figure out the best and cheapest ways to fix any problems that come up.
Having pitch fibre drains on a property can affect how it is bought and sold. It is a good idea to get a drainage survey done when you buy a property to find out what kind of drainage system it has and how well it works. This can help you avoid problems and costs that come up later. Being honest about the state of the drainage system and any work that has been done can help make transactions go more smoothly for people who are selling homes with pitch fibre drains.
It’s apparent that pitch fibre drains will continue to be a problem for many home owners in the future. As these systems get older, they are more likely to have difficulties, and many homes with pitch fibre drains may need to be fixed in the next few years. This is both a problem and an opportunity for the drainage sector, since more and more people need help with these broken pipes.
In conclusion, pitch fibre drains are a big problem that many homes in the UK still have to deal with. People used to think they were an innovative way to solve drainage problems, but they haven’t lived up to their promises over time. Property owners, buyers, and industry professionals all need to know about pitch fibre drains’ features, possible problems, and possible solutions. It is feasible to efficiently deal with the problems caused by pitch fibre drains and keep property drainage systems healthy in the long run by taking care of these issues before they become problems and getting expert help when needed.