If the drain has a solid top, pry it up from the edge instead. Drainage consist of piping, tiling or an underground catch basin that collects excess water and funnels it away from your property, often to a termination point at the street, a drainage field, or some other safe runoff point. wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. Cleaning the Pipes Locate the obstruction. Safely secure the ladder against your brickwork â donât attempt to clear drain pipes on your own, someone should always be at the foot of your ladder. Clean your drain screens periodically to remove any obstructions. While you can, of course, unclog outdoor drain and French Drain pipes as needed, this is a good example of an ounce of prevention being worth a pound of cure. However, severe blockages or damage to the drainage system will probably require professional help to address. Outdoor drains are susceptible to clogging with leaves or mud. Check sink drainage across your property. Wear rubber gloves when youâre working on your drain so you donât get any skin irritation from the water or debris. Figure A: Under-Floor Drain System. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. Put on leather gloves for this task, as thin rubber gloves are dangerous as they can get caught in the coils and tighten around your hand. Unclog Your Drain ⦠Simply reach into the drain using the rod and gently feel around until you come across the problem blockage. The job of clearing clogs in the larger drain lines found under ⦠Whether you have issues with outdoor landscape drains, or you need to find out how to unclog a French Drain, you’ll be glad to hear that this common problem can be relatively easy to solve, especially with professional assistance from outside drain cleaners. In some cases, figuring out how to unclog outdoor drain pipes is relatively easy, and you could save some money with a DIY approach. Landscape drainage operates on a straightforward system. Take a look at this step-by-step guide for unblocking your drains. Remove the drain strainer or grate to access the outside drain clogged with dirt. If you have a clog in a septic drain, try enzyme cleaners before any harsh chemicals. Yes, you can make your own outdoor drain cleaner using vinegar and baking soda. Insert the hose into the underground pipe until it stops. Push until the hose stops, indicating that youâve probably reached the blockage. Whether you break the clog apart by hand or use a solution of baking powder and vinegar, your drain will flow like new! I traced a circle around the drain cap, then cut it about 15-20mm bigger. Your drain pipe will have some kind of grate over the opening to catch large debris like leaves, twigs, and so on. Pipe relining is by far the best and most effective way to unblock a drain ⦠Tip: If there's a chance of rain, cover the drain with a rag or plug so the vinegar and baking soda don't rinse out. We know ads can be annoying, but theyâre what allow us to make all of wikiHow available for free. There may be objects hidden under the water or in the clog that could cause irritation. If you have severe storms, check your drains the following day to see if there is any debris. Tip: Enzyme cleaners are safe to use with septic tank lines since they won't harm the helpful bacteria. The Old-Fashioned Way You can't go past the good old fashion plunger to force the block from the plumbing pipe. A clogged landscape drainage pipe can result in significant damage and expense if left untended. This can lead to further yard damage and greater expense for repairs. Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 73,002 times. Leaves, mulch, silt, and other yard debris can be difficult to clean and flush out of a landscape drain unless you have the right drain cleaner for the job.. [1] X Research source To unclog an outdoor drain pipe, take along a plastic trash bag to put any found debris that is likely to be the source of the clog. Your outside drain may be connected to not only your in-home fixtures, but runoff from roof drains, area drains, and more may also be connected. You can stick drain rods down outside drains to try to break up clogs or obstructions that may be blocking it. Boiling Water. If you’ve already cleaned the opening of your drain and there’s still backup, check cleanouts and the termination point next to see if you can spot and remove other areas of blockage. For dirt or mud, you might need a professional to use a hydro-jet or other method to clear the blockage. This is the easiest and least expensive solution of all, which makes it the best one to ⦠Feed the snake into the drain. Practical Tips on Unclogging Outdoor Drain Pipes & Portals. If you canât get it to work, you may need to call a professional. A normal main machine would be my choice, because it pushes the debris out of the pipe, chops up any roots and scrapes the inside of the pipe clean. Drain Rodding. Boiling water will kill any grass near your drain if it spills on the soil. Outside Drain Unblocker: Tools and Chemicals. Step by Step guide for unclogging drainage pipes that attach to downspouts. If you’ve ever used a snake to unclog indoor drains, you can try the same approach with outdoor drains. Use thick waterproof gloves that come up to your elbow. Step 1: Visual Inspection; If you have a blocked drain, the first thing you need to do is perform a visual inspection. Here are a few things you can try first when you experience a yard drain pipe clogged with dirt or detritus. This should release the pressure in the sewer line and force any water that has backed up into your home to drain. Follow these steps to use caustic soda to unblock an outside drain: ⢠Pour caustic soda down the drain ⢠Pour water and wait for soda to fizz away ⢠The debris will rise to the top ⢠Add more water to remove the debris. % of people told us that this article helped them. There is no disturbing or digging of soil, no use of heavy chemicals or any other non-environmentally friendly way of clearing the drain. There’s a lot to be said for preventive maintenance if you want to spare hassle and expense in the long run. Chemical Drain Cleaners. Clear the Blockage. Use your flashlight to reach inside the drain pipe or system opening to carefully remove any debris that is seen or felt right at the entrance. Gather The Necessary Equipment; If you are confident of having what it takes to unblock your drain pipe outside, then you should keep in mind the essential equipment. This equipment will make your job easier and faster. Tips don't get any easier than this. By signing up you are agreeing to receive emails according to our privacy policy. While you can, of course, unclog outdoor drain and French Drain pipes as needed, this is a good example of an ounce of prevention being worth a pound of cure. Significant blockages could cause pressure to build and pipes to crack or collapse. Even so, you may periodically experience issues like outside drain and French Drain pipes clogged with dirt and debris that causes backups and flooding. It is about time you got to work. How to Unblock an Outside Drain. If you can’t clear a blockage on your own, or you’re not keen on getting your hands dirty, it’s time to contact experts in outside drainage, blocked storm drain cleaning, and French Drain cleaning. This can ruin landscaping and seep into the base of your structure, leading to water damage, rot, mold, and other issues as a result. How to Unclog an Outside Drainage Pipe In some cases, figuring out how to unclog outdoor drain pipes is relatively easy, and you could save some money with a DIY approach. References. Will vinegar and baking soda unclog a drain? â A pressure hose that can clean the drain after youâre done unblocking it â A screwdriver that can fit in blocked areas â Eye goggles if thereâs a potential danger of a pipe burst or anything similar â A large version of the regular drain rod, or as some like to call it, a drain snake However, if water is still getting through in a trickle, backup could seep into the soil surrounding the drainage pipe, leading to soggy soil, areas of overly lush growth, foul odors, and the presence of mold, mildew, or fungus. If you think a foul water pipe is affected, run the water in your sink or flush the toilet to see what happens. Pour about 1 cup ( 208 g ) of bleach to prevent any smells and break! 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