By Matthew Baring-Gould, Kingscliff-based drainage plumber. Servicing Tweed Heads for 4 years. 5.0 stars across 173 Google reviews. Licensed NSW 383340C and QLD 15036450. ABN 74 605 392 348.
A Reedy Creek homeowner had a blocked stormwater line. We extended the hydrojet downstream toward the back of the property, cleared the blockage, then CCTV’d the full run. Two findings: the main stormwater pipe runs directly under the house slab, and every downpipe feeds in on StormFlex corrugated riser instead of hard PVC.
What the customer called us for
Owner called us out for a blocked stormwater line at a Reedy Creek property, just outside the Gold Coast.
What we found when we got there
We extended the hydrojet downstream toward the back of the property and cleared the blockage. When we ran the camera through afterwards we found two things. First, the stormwater main was running directly underneath the house slab, which is a strange and risky location for a break. Second, every downpipe connection was run in StormFlex corrugated riser pipe rather than hard PVC.
Why we did it this way
StormFlex is popular on new builds because it saves the plumber time and material cost. The problem is it is brittle, it holds water when it is not laid with perfect fall, and it breaks down in the ground. Lawnmowers wreck it. Building debris on top of it crushes and dislodges it. Nine times out of ten, StormFlex risers become the next blockage. And on top of that, a stormwater main under a house slab means any future break is a far more expensive excavation.
What we did on site
- Extended the hydrojet downstream from the stormwater pit toward the back of the property.
- Hit the blockage and flushed it through.
- Ran the CCTV camera along the full line and mapped the run.
- Identified that the main was passing directly under the house slab.
- Noted the StormFlex riser connections at every downpipe as a future failure risk.
- Advised the owner on redirecting the stormwater around the back of the property and replacing StormFlex risers with hard PVC.
The result
Blockage cleared on the day of the callout. Owner has a documented camera report, a map of the line under the slab, and a plan to redirect the stormwater around the back of the property and replace the StormFlex risers before the next failure.
If you have the same issue
If you had a new build in the last ten years on the Gold Coast and your stormwater has started to block or pool, chances are you have StormFlex riser pipes. Book a CCTV survey before the wet season so you know what you are dealing with. Call Matty on 0447 188 394 or request a quote.
Customer names and addresses have been withheld. Individual results vary. Drain Masters Plumbing is licensed in NSW (383340C) and QLD (15036450).
Frequently asked
What is StormFlex and why is it a problem?
StormFlex is a flexible corrugated pipe used to connect downpipes into the stormwater main. It is faster to install than hard PVC, which is why builders use it. But it is brittle, it crushes under load, it holds water if the fall is not perfect, and it breaks down in the ground over time. Hard PVC does not have those issues.
Why is a stormwater pipe under a house slab risky?
If the pipe breaks under the slab you cannot access it to repair without cutting the slab. That means jackhammering through concrete inside or under your home. Running the stormwater around the perimeter of the house instead means any future repair is a dig outside, not a demolition inside.
Do I need to replace StormFlex right now or can I wait?
If it is flowing and not failing, you can plan it in. Once it starts holding water, pooling at the pit, or showing cracks in a CCTV survey, it is time to replace the affected section with hard PVC before you get a full blockage or a sinkhole.
Browse all our case studies.
Residential, commercial, stormwater, sewer, drainage installs across Tweed Heads, the Northern Rivers, the Gold Coast and Brisbane. See the full collection →
