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How to unblock gutter down pipe?
nick205 - 19/10/19 at 05:39 PM

Evening,

I have gutter down pipe that's blocked, causing rainwater to fountain out the top of the down pipe. I've cleared all leaf debri from the gutter itself, but now need to sort the blockage in the down pipe. I've also fitted guards in the gutter to prevent further build up of leaf debris.

The down pipe itself is concreted into the groun so I can't get up it it from the bottom.

The down pipe exits below ground into a sewage drain so I'm not at all keen to simply push the blockage into the sewage drain and risk further problems.

Can anyone recommend a solution, perhaps something I can pour in from the top that will dissolve the blockage?

Thanks
Nick


cliftyhanger - 19/10/19 at 05:55 PM

The easiest way to do a proper job may be to dismantle from the top...

However, using a sturdy drain rod with spiral end attachment may work, as long as the pipe has no bends. Otherwise a smaller wire type drain unblocker may help. At least locate the blockage.

You may be able to cut the downpipe and pop a connector in? All sorts of possibilities.

Pressuer washer with a drain hose would probably work too. You may get wet.


nick205 - 19/10/19 at 06:03 PM

Cutting the down pipe closer to the ground is an option and the reassembling with a link section.

This may allow me clearer sight of and access to the blockage.


theconrodkid - 19/10/19 at 07:01 PM

cut the pipe with an angry grinder or similar and clear the leaves out, you can get joiners at places like screwfix


pmc_3 - 19/10/19 at 07:35 PM

I cleared my gutters recently and the down pipes were blocked, when I took the top join off it was only the very end that was blocked up, all of the rest was fine.


ReMan - 19/10/19 at 08:04 PM

unless you suspect theres something big, like a tennis ball ion it, then as others said drain/sweep rods with a screw pig end from the top, chances are its leaf build up at the angle near the bottom.

is it iron, plastic or asbestos?


pewe - 19/10/19 at 08:28 PM

Once clear put a balloon leaf guard on top of the drain pipe in the gutter.
PIA to clear annually but better than blocked downpipes - ask me how I know...
Cheers, Pewe10


steve m - 20/10/19 at 07:37 AM

I had a similar problem out the front of my house, that in heavy rain the whole pathway etc in front of my
front door would fill up like a lake, as the drain could not cope, this went on for years, and I tried rods,
long spring pipe cleaners, and pressure hose
And nothing worked

so bought one of these "Pressure Washer Sewer Drain Cleaning Hose Pipe Tube Cleaner For Karcher K Series "
off ebay, and with in 15 mins of running it up and down the soil pipe/drain, something gave in, and the drain was unblocked
no more lakes outside my door!

I would go for cutting an access hole near the bottom, big enough for rods or a hose to go up/down into
Then make an ali plate to cover the hole, and self tappers drilled into the pipe

steve


nick205 - 20/10/19 at 07:46 AM

quote:
Originally posted by steve m
I had a similar problem out the front of my house, that in heavy rain the whole pathway etc in front of my
front door would fill up like a lake, as the drain could not cope, this went on for years, and I tried rods,
long spring pipe cleaners, and pressure hose
And nothing worked

so bought one of these "Pressure Washer Sewer Drain Cleaning Hose Pipe Tube Cleaner For Karcher K Series "
off ebay, and with in 15 mins of running it up and down the soil pipe/drain, something gave in, and the drain was unblocked
no more lakes outside my door!

I would go for cutting an access hole near the bottom, big enough for rods or a hose to go up/down into
Then make an ali plate to cover the hole, and self tappers drilled into the pipe

steve



This is what I'm thinking I should do with mine.

I've fitted a "balloon guard" thing to the top of the down pipe to prevent more stuff going down there.


Angel Acevedo - 21/10/19 at 12:32 AM

quote:
Originally posted by nick205
Evening,

I have gutter down pipe that's blocked, causing rainwater to fountain out the top of the down pipe. I've cleared all leaf debri from the gutter itself, but now need to sort the blockage in the down pipe. I've also fitted guards in the gutter to prevent further build up of leaf debris.

The down pipe itself is concreted into the groun so I can't get up it it from the bottom.

The down pipe exits below ground into a sewage drain so I'm not at all keen to simply push the blockage into the sewage drain and risk further problems.

Can anyone recommend a solution, perhaps something I can pour in from the top that will dissolve the blockage?

Thanks
Nick


I had the same problem and used a large piece of expanded metal laid on an incline.
This way small debris can flow with water and bigger stuff gets stuck without clogging the drain.
Organic stuff will decay and drain later on without the need to physically dislodging it.
Plastic stuff will not decay (and I have had a couple occurrences where I needed to go upstairs and dislodge it manually), but not a real problem unless it covers a LOT of the expanded metal piece.
HTH.


coyoteboy - 21/10/19 at 07:42 PM

There's a drain rodding add-on kit for Karcher washers.

I just got on a ladder, poked like hell with a long rod while flooding with the hose. Worked for me.