Discovering that your stormwater pipes are blocked is a less than ideal situation, especially if you don’t realise until you’re in the middle of a storm and your backyard is flooding. A blocked stormwater drain can end up being a significant problem if it isn’t attended to soon. The next good storm or bout of rain could end up leading to a lot of water damage on your property if the water has nowhere to easily drain. Unblocking your stormwater drain doesn’t have to be as hard as you may think. Take a look at our top tips on how to clear blocked stormwater pipes.
What are some common causes of a blocked stormwater pipe?
When it comes to your stormwater drains, there can be a number of different factors that are causing your drains to become blocked. While many of these are generally easy enough to deal with yourself, there are also times when you may need to call in a professional plumber to sort out the blockage for you. The following are just some of the most common causes for a blocked stormwater pipe:
- Rubbish and debris
- Tree roots and plant debris
- Grease, oil, cleaners and solvents
- Fertilisers and pesticides
- Animal waste
- Mud and stones
What are the signs of a clogged drain?
Often, it will be obvious that something is blocking your stormwater drain. You can expect to experience the following:
- A bad smell: Stagnant wastewater is one of the earliest signs that not all is right with your stormwater pipe. Sitting or stagnant water causes a particularly bad smell and is a sign that the water is not flowing like it is supposed to.
- Slow sink and toilet water drainage: When your stormwater pipes are blocked, the water in your home will fail to drain as it should. This can present as sinks that take a long time to drain or an overflowing toilet bowl.
- Flooded yards: A flooded yard, especially during a storm, is a sign that all that water has nowhere to go due to blocked pipes.
How do you clear a blocked stormwater drain?
- Remove the debris: If it is safe to do so, you can try removing any obvious debris that you can see in your stormwater pipes. Try sweeping away any leaves, debris, rubbish or tree branches that you can see in front of the drain cover to see if this helps. If you’re still experiencing issues with your stormwater pipes, you will need to call in professionals to assess the situation for you.
- Professional assistance: Depending on what kind of blockage is present in your drain, your plumber may decide to clear it away with a high-pressure jetter. The high-pressure water can help clear away even the most stubborn of clogs. If this doesn’t work, you may have something more invasive present, such as tree roots that have grown into your pipes. A professional will be able to investigate with a specially designed camera and then create a plan of action moving forward to get your pipes clear again.
Call in a professional today!
If you’re experiencing problems with a blocked stormwater drain and you’re not too sure how to go about unblocking it, we can help. Give our team at Oceanside Services a call on 07 5520 7100 today. We can have your stormwater pipes ready to weather the next storm in no time at all.