Facilities have to clean their drainage systems, but it's often an expensive process. To prevent contamination and to pass inspections, facilities must follow sanitation guidelines listed in the USDA Sanitation Standard Operating Procedures Handbook. To comply with the USDA guidelines, businesses must clean drains on a daily basis to prevent unsanitary conditions.
The cost of cleaning drainage systems
It takes time to properly clean drainage systems to comply with the sanitation requirements in the USDA Sanitation Standard Operating Procedures Handbook. In processing facilities, time is money. The harder it is to clean a drainage system, the more it will cost. Companies that choose an easy to clean drainage system save time and money. Not sure if an easy to clean drainage system is worth the switch? Let’s compare the cost of cleaning a grated trench drain system versus a Slot Drain® System.
Cost of cleaning a grated trench system
- As an example, let's say we installed a 100-foot section of grated trench drain in a facility. The drain is load class rated to load E and is 100% stainless steel. The worker who cleans the drain earns $12 per hour and cleans the drain 5 days per week.
- Cleaning time per day
- 3-5 minutes to access drain pit and empty it
- 120-210 minutes to lift, scrub, inspect and replace all drain covers
- 60-90 minutes to scrub, rinse and sanitize the drain channel
- Total time per day: 2 -5 hours
- Cleaning cost of labor
- $156 – $260 per year (13 – 22 hours)
- $6,240 – $10,920 per year (520 – 910 hours)
- $3,120 – $4,680 per year (260 – 390 hours)
Cleaning a grated drain can cost $9,516 - $15,860 per year!
But is there really a better solution? Let's analyze the cost of cleaning a slotted trench drain.
Cost of cleaning a Slot Drain® System- Let's look at a similar example for a Slot Drain® System. Let's say we installed a 100-foot section of Slot Drain® in a facility. The drain is load class rated to load F and is 100% stainless steel. The worker assigned to cleaning the drain earns $12 per hour and cleans the drain 5 days per week.
- Cleaning Time per Day
- 3-5 minutes to access drain pit and empty it
- 1-2 minutes to run paddle through length of drain
- 20-25 minutes to thoroughly brush entire drain
- Total time per day: 24-32 minutes
- Cleaning Cost in Labor
- $52 – $104 per year (4 – 9 hours)
- $156 – $260 per year (13 – 22 hours)
- $1,040 – $1,300 per year (87 – 108 hours)
Cleaning a Slot Drain® System costs just $1,248 to $1,664 per year!
ON AVERAGE, YOU'LL SAVE UP TO 90% IN CLEANING COSTS!
Cleaning a slotted trench system is easier and faster than cleaning a grated trench drain. What’s the main difference between the drains? Slot drains eliminate grates. It takes just 24-32 minutes to clean a slotted trench drain system, compared to the 2-5 hours needed for the grated trench. Switching to a slotted trench drain eliminates hours of lifting, scrubbing, inspecting and replacing the drain covers - a huge advantage for any processing facility.
Save money by choosing a sanitary drainage system
Your facility will save money long-term by using an easy-to-clean, low-maintenance drainage system. Drains that comply with the USDA Sanitation Guidelines feature smooth materials, radius edges and stainless steel construction.
If drainage systems are difficult for employees to clean, they might neglect necessary cleaning procedures. Poorly cleaned drains can harbor bacteria and lead to product recalls, fines, lawsuits or harm to consumers.
The best way to protect your food or beverage processing facility from contamination is by choosing a sanitary drainage system that complies with USDA sanitation requirements.
Sanitary drainage systems
Slot Drain® Systems are easier to clean and more cost-effective than grated trench drains. The linear slots eliminate traditional grates, which are hard to clean and can wear out in just a few years. Use slotted drains wherever floor or ground surfaces contact fluids or require frequent cleanings.
