The Clogged Roof Drain Solution: Mifab RoofGuards

Standing water on flat roofs is a major problem, especially for large commercial facilities that have multiple buildings to manage. As a distributor of a variety of plumbing and maintenance fixtures and repair parts, we like to show you how our most innovative products make maintenance tasks easier, and solve the problems you face at your facility. This RoofGuard by Mifab will greatly reduce the number of maintenance visits you will need to make to the rooftop. It virtually eliminates standing water on flat roofs because it’s almost impossible for these well-designed drain covers to clog and cause water dams – an occurrence that happens regularly with the less-than-perfect design of regular roof drain domes. Watch the video below starring Brian Tupper of Triumph Sales. He explains the problems that occur on flat roofs, why they happen, and how the new, patent-pending RoofGuard by Mifab is designed to solve the expensive and maintenance-intensive problems caused by regular dome-shaped roof drains.

The Problem with Regular Roof Drain Domes

Regular roof drain domes often get clogged by leaves, plastic bags, and other debris that collects on flat roofs. This creates a water dam, and prevents rainwater from flowing down the roof drain. This results in standing water on the roof, which can cause a variety of expensive problems. As described in the video above, the dome shape of regular roof drains is not ideal for preventing clogs and enabling proper water drainage. The tall shape, vertical drain ports, and 12” diameter of dome-style roof drain covers is what makes them less than effective roof drain covers.

The Damage Caused by Clogged Roof Drains

Standing water can occur on flat roofs when roof drains or roof drain covers become clogged. The water around them has nowhere to go, so it simply collects on the rooftop and causes big, expensive problems. Since this standing water occurs on the roof, a place where people don’t usually frequent, it may collect for long periods of time before it is noticed. This leads to water damage that causes discoloration, sagging roofs, leaks and roof damage that can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars to fix. The damaged caused by clogged roof drains is such a large problem that building codes for buildings with flat rooftops require a secondary overflow roof drain. However, even with a secondary roof drain, both dome-shaped roof drain covers can become clogged, and cause water to collect. This is where Mifab’s new Roof Drain’s come in.

The Solution for Better Roof Drain Covers: Mifab RoofGuards

Mifab RoofGuards are the covers that are placed over Mifab roof drains and other roof drains, and prevent debris from entering and clogging roof drains. Roofguards are ideal for replacing existing roof drain domes on the roofs of schools, warehouses, factories, office buildings, and any other building that has standing water on the roof due to clogged roof drain domes. The horizontal slots of the RoofGuard design are much more effective than the vertical slots of other roof drain domes in preventing clogs and keeping the water flowing down the drain instead of collecting on the roof.

They enable the debris like leaves that collect and clog regular roof drains to float above the guard when there is a surplus of water, enabling the water to flow below the debris and into the roof drain. The diagram above shows how horizontal Roofguards by Mifab enable water to flow down through the drain, with debris floating to the top.

Two Types of Mifab Roof Drains

Mifab makes two different styles of RoofGuards. One is plastic and adheres to the roof with an adhesive (included), and the other is made of cast iron and attaches to the roof with hardware (also included). The roof is not penetrated with either of these guards. They are both universal in the sense that they fit most any roof drain on a flat roof. Compare these two Mifab Roof Drain RoofGuards below:

Polyethylene RoofGuard

Equiparts part #66298PK

Mifab model RG2016DDC

Features:

• Made of Polyethylene, which is a tough, light, flexible synthetic resin.
• Patented design increases surface area by up to 5x or more, making a RoofGuard protected drain virtually uncloggable.
• Guard diameter size is 19 inches.
• Eliminates leaks and costly repairs caused by clogged drains.
• RoofGuard can replace any roof drain dome strainer up to 15″ in diameter.
• Removable top allows easy access to drain and piping without detaching Roof Guard.
• Installation is fast, simple, and requires no tools.
• Attaches to the roof with an Adhesive. Adhesive is included. No tools required.

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Cast Iron RoofGuard

Equiparts part #68004

Mifab model RG2016DDC

Features:

• Made of heavy-duty cast iron
• The patented design increases surface area by up to 5x or more, making a RoofGuard protected drain virtually uncloggable.
• Guard diameter size is 19 inches.
• Eliminates leaks and costly repairs caused by clogged drains.
• RoofGuard can replace any roof drain dome strainer up to 15″ in diameter.
• It is bolted to the roof drain body and membrane. Hardware is included.

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Also available is the Poly RoofGuard Scupper Drain, which was shown at the end of the video. Call to order the Scupper drain and mention Part #68090. 

Order online or give us a call to place your order:

Toll-Free: 800-442-6622

Pittsburgh: 412-781-9100

Monday through Friday from 8:00AM – 4:00PM, EST.

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