There’s a huge selection of tools and equipment for drainage professionals. So much so that deciding what you’ll need can be quite intimidating. Fortunately, DCR is here to help by answering any questions you may have about the products that we stock. Our hire fleet can also be leveraged to ensure you can access advanced, specialist equipment when needed.
That said, there are a few things that every drainage professional needs. Below, you’ll find the five most important pieces of equipment for any drainage professional.
1. A drain camera
We’re starting with the most obvious: no drainage professional should be without an inspection camera. These systems allow professionals to inspect pipes for damage, intrusions, etc. and determine what needs to be done to rectify any faults they find. Without a system, operatives need to dig around and potentially remove sections of pipe to find faults. This is time consuming, inefficient and will almost certainly mean you need to charge higher fees. In turn, this will make you less competitive. The only questions you need to ask are which model you’ll need and whether you should purchase or hire a system.
As far as deciding on which make and model of drain camera you need, we prepared a post previously discussing this very topic and you can view it here. In summary, though, you need to consider what work you regularly undertake – paying particular attention to the size of pipes you consistently work in and the inspection lengths you typically require – in order to decide on the best system for you.
As for whether you should purchase or hire a system, cashflow/finance should be your main consideration. Initially hiring out a system whilst starting up minimises up-front costs, allowing you to earn without purchasing an expensive system. You may be able to finance a system, but this can be difficult for newly opened businesses without a history of income.
Ultimately, you’ll need to weigh up the advantages of hiring a drain camera (which we’ve written about extensively here) against those of purchasing a system outright. Whether you choose to hire or purchase, though, a drain inspection camera is essential for any drainage professional.
2. Drain rods and attachments
Whilst predominantly used for breaking down and clearing blockages, drain rods actually have multiple potential uses thanks to the variety of attachments available for them. They provide affordable solutions to several problems as a result.
These attachments include brushes for cleaning, tools for retrieving lost items, plungers, boring tools and more, making drain rods a highly versatile and essential addition to any drainage professional’s tool kit.
3. Drain dye
Another essential component of a drainage professional’s arsenal, drain dye is used to trace the path of water. This allows operatives to identify leaks, determine which drainage systems pipes lead to, locate missed connections, etc.
This essential kit is available in multiple colours (DCR offers green, red, blue, and orange) and is also relatively inexpensive. A single 200g pot of DCR’s drain dye is capable of colouring as much as 20,000 litres of water and costs just £6.30! You can get yours here today.
4. The CoverUp Key
As a drainage professional, you’ll regularly need to move manholes and access covers. You’ll also regularly encounter stuck/seized covers that are difficult to move/lift. Trying to move these covers with hand tools, or other non-specialised equipment is both time consuming and dangerous. Common tools operatives use to try and move covers include crowbars, sledgehammers and screwdrivers. These are used to either try and prise the cover open, or to hammer around its edges in the hope of loosening it. Even when these methods do work and an operative is able to move the cover, they will have wasted time that they would have saved with just one simple tool: the CoverUp Key.
Using a patented slide-hammer, the CoverUp Key is the only tool designed to open access covers. It delivers extreme, temporary impact to the underside of a cover, ensuring that force is directed efficiently. The key’s design also allows all users to exert extreme force irrespective of their height, weight, etc.
You can find out about the science behind the CoverUp Key by downloading the company’s white paper here. You can also get your CoverUp Key from our website.
5. PPE
Not just vital to drainage professionals, but to virtually any tradesman, PPE provides protection and keeps professionals safe.
From gloves to face shields, wipes to eyewash kits and everything in between, DCR has all of the PPE a drainage professional could need. The absolute essentials we’d recommend include disposable gloves, first aid kits, eye/face protection and hand sanitiser.
Conclusion
A drainage professional’s collection of equipment will grow as their career progresses, but there are some essentials that they should have from the very start! Fortunately, everything listed above can be found at DCR. Visit our website here to find out more!
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