Advantages and disadvantages of Swabbing

The advantages of swabbing of pipeline are :

•  The technique is simple and cheap,
•  It is free from mechanical gadgets,
•  It does not require much opening of the trenches, if adequate facilities are provided in the pipeline for insertion  and exit of swab,
•  Regular swabbing once in a year keeps the inside of the pipeline clean, and 
•  Regular and systematic swabbing keeps the C- value higher to maintain desired pressure at all points in the system.

The disadvantage of the swabbing is that

• It cannot remove the hard incrustations , which can be avoided by regular swabbing of the pipeline from the time of installation.
•  The removal of hardened deposits may require cutting of pipe. Incrustation inside the C.I. pipe removing it.