It may seem harmless enough, but badly managed stormwater on your property can be disruptive, messy, unhealthy, and downright devastating. In fact, we’ve seen stormwater damage – on multiple occasions – that is so extensive that the very foundations became saturated, permanently damaged and even physically shifted, causing structural damage all throughout the property. That’s why clearing a blocked downpipe should never be put off to another day and you should always take care of any Brisbane gutter and downpipe repairs promptly.
Think about how your stormwater works: The rain comes out of the sky, often by the bucket-full, runs into your gutters, and then heads south via the downpipes. The downpipes themselves may seem fairly insignificant, but they actually have an absolutely crucial role to play. Your downpipes:
- Must not contain any gaps or holes, as this can allow water to escape into your home.
- Should serve about 10-15 metres of gutter per downpipe, in order to avoid overly pressuring your stormwater system.
- Should be ideally positioned near the valley gutters for ideal water catchment.
- Should be firmly and correctly connected to avoid movement during heavy storms – when they are needed the most.
- Should always be clean and clear of any and all blockages.
It is on that final point that we want to dwell on for a while here because it should never be forgotten how common a blocked downpipe really is. Remember, those downpipes are designed to be inundated with stormwater, so it’s simply inevitable that – over time – they’re highly susceptible to clogging issues.
Downpipes typically become blocked with:
- Leaves & debris: Unfortunately, the natural design of leaves makes them notorious for clogging up downpipes, but they’re also vulnerable to sticks, pine needles, dirt, gunk and minerals build-up – and a lot more besides.
- Moss: All of that moisture and shade is simply perfect for moss production.
- Plants: Likewise, as that moisture and organic material accumulates, it becomes a great place for a plant to call home.
- Objects: From a tennis ball, broken tiles, roofing cement and all sorts of other stuff, it’s always a surprise to find what lurks within downpipes.
Like every other human-made thing, downpipes also suffer from wear & tear, poor installation issues, deterioration and damage. But if all that’s gone wrong is a fairly easy to diagnose blockage, then it’s as easy as A-B-C to clear it:
A. Grab the ladder & flush
Those downpipes are up there, so you’ll need a ladder to get to the top of the pipe. If you can’t see what’s causing the blockage, poke something thin down there and see if it eventually hits the blockage. You might even be able to use whatever detection-rod you’re using to break it up, and then finish the job by sticking the garden hose down there to give it all a good flush.
B. Take it apart
If a rod and hose didn’t work, you could bite the bullet and go about taking the downpipe apart. To save yourself a bit of time & effort, whack your knuckles down the length of the downpipe until the sound becomes more muted – and that’s where the blockage probably is. Take the downpipe apart, and then it should be pretty easy to use that rod/hose again to get rid of it.
C. Prevention
If A or B worked, congratulations! Now let’s do something about preventing it from happening again. You could consider installing mesh guards to act as a sieve for debris. Just don’t forget to inspect them periodically, as they’re quite effective for separating the water from the bigger stuff. Trimming back overhanging trees, whose litter is the cause of so many blocked downpipes, is also something to think about. But the best preventative measure is simply to give your downpipes a bit of regular thought & stormwater maintenance, as a decent flush with a garden hose is usually enough.
Drain Masters Plumbing – the masters of downpipe clearing & repairs
But if you don’t have time to deal with that blocked downpipe, or your best efforts have failed and some heavy-duty gear and sophisticated techniques are the order of the day, it’s time to call in the true blocked drain cleaning masters. In Brisbane, Drain Masters Plumbing is renowned for being the local experts for stormwater drainage solutions – including downpipe & gutter clearing and repairs.
For guaranteed workmanship at the best local price, get in touch with our friendly Brisbane plumbers today.
