Manholes are the access points in most underground public utilities. Workers climb down manholes when they need to examine a particular public utility, such as telephone lines and drainage. Running regular maintenance in underground utilities are made easier by manholes.
In addition, manholes allow necessary inspection and systems upgrade to benefit these utilities and the public. Without manholes, repairs in district heating, sewers, and other public services may require more effort and time.
However, like the public utilities, manholes need proper maintenance. Among the usual issues of manholes are the loss or denting of their covers. In residential properties, a manhole without a cover could be problematic. As such, a manhole cover replacement is necessary to address this issue.
Suppose you’re still thinking about whether a replacement is a wise decision. In that case, in this article, you’ll learn how replacing a manhole cover benefits residential properties.
Table of Contents
1) Manhole Covers Provide Safety And Security
Most manholes are 2 to 5 feet deep. Anybody who’d fall in these holes may suffer from injury. With adequately sealed manhole covers, accidents like this could be prevented.
If you need a well-fit cover, you may need to know the exact measurement of the opening. After which, you could start choosing among replacement manhole covers you could find in home improvement stores.
When selecting one, you should consider the type of material the cover is made of—cast iron, concrete, or mixed. And finally, you should choose according to weight, as heavy covers help in fitting the lid tightly.
2) Manhole Covers Are Cost-Effective
Most manhole covers have a long lifespan because of the materials of which they’re made. Because of their longevity, there’ll be no need for future recurring expenses, unless they’re lost or stolen. If these covers are within your property, you may need to keep them safe.
Seal them tightly because some covers, particularly cast iron, are often stolen because of their scrap value. On the other hand, cast-iron covers are generally affordable.
3) Manhole Covers Improves General Sewage System Operation
Since manhole covers cap the entry points of manholes, they help regulate the sewage functions by blocking whatever might affect the inflow and infiltration of the sewers.
For example, pumping a septic tank becomes easy as the operation is done in a confined space. If gases spread, it’d be easy for workers to control them as they could simply shut off the entry point.
4) Manhole Covers Prevent Hazardous Gases From Escaping
Sewers are one public utility that uses manholes. With high-quality covers, gases are confined to their chambers and pipes. This is a good point for residential property, as inhaling sewer gases may cause sickness to tenants or homeowners.
On the other hand, while many prefer round covers because they don’t easily fall into the openings, covers with irregular shapes could be ideal options. These types no longer need to rotate and counter-rotate covers because the latter type fits most manholes.
5) Most Manhole Covers Are Maintenance-Free
Whether the covers are metal, fiberglass, plastic, or mixed, property owners don’t need to look after them often as long as they’re appropriately fixed. However, suppose you constantly smell a foul odor coming from the manhole.
In that case, that may be a sign that you need to inspect the manhole, especially if its last use was months ago. If you want a durable cover, you may opt for sealed types as they suit and fit better than the unsealed ones.
6) Manhole Covers Add To Aesthetic Appeal
Manhole covers are typically round. However, through the years, these covers have changed their forms and sizes. Today, some covers could blend in the well-designed flooring of residential properties because of their novel looks.
These are ideal for property owners who want to retain the designs of their property, even with the need for manhole cover replacement.
Wrapping Up
Generally, having a manhole with covers provide a range of benefits to a residential property. Primarily, they cover the opening to prevent access from unknown individuals.
This way, the public utilities remain clean and well-maintained. For sewers, not having a manhole cover may cause public health issues. For other utilities, not having covers would allow water to enter the subsurface that could impact the structures where the manholes are located.
If you’re looking for ways manhole covers benefit residential properties, think about the points mentioned in this article. You may also go back to the insights that could help you identify which type of manhole cover fits your need.
After all, you wouldn’t want anybody to fall into a manhole that could trigger more problems. Still, the best thing to do for you is to buy manhole covers that serve their purpose and benefit you.
