How To Tackle A Blocked Downpipe: An Easy 10-Step Guide
Dealing with blocked downpipes is a real nuisance - all that backed up and spilled dirty stormwater, risking damage to your home and structural issues in your property. But the biggest nuisance is having to put it right asap! While it's often a task for a professional plumber, there are a few things you can try yourself before making that call.
DIY downpipe de-blocking: Your first steps
Need a quick and helpful guide on how to clear a blocked downpipe - ensuring you stay safe and avoid causing further damage in the process? Remember, if in doubt, it's always best to call that trusty local blocked drain plumber. But why not try this first?:
1. Safety first
Before attempting to unblock downpipes at home, make sure you at least have some basic safety gear. We're talking about gloves and maybe even glasses or goggles, guarding against any potential contaminants and debris and hidden nasties like spiders! And if you're using a ladder, here's the tip: Be careful!
2. Do a quick visual check
With your gloves on, let's start with a simple visual inspection to see if you can locate something really obvious. Sometimes, you'll just be able to reach in and pull out the offending blockage - and breathe a sigh of relief.
3. Check for structural damage
While you're doing that visual check, keep an eye out for any signs of structural damage like cracks or breaks in the pipe. This step is crucial in understanding how to unblock a downpipe effectively.
4. Learn how to clean downpipes
If you can't just immediately see what's blocking that downpipe, the garden hose might just be your best friend. But while it may sound simple, be careful you don't make that blockage even worse:
- Insert the hose into the downpipe
- Turn on the water to flush out the debris
- Watch for water flow changes to see if the blockage is moving
- Repeat as necessary.
5. Dismantling the downpipe
No luck? You could always consider physically dismantling the downpipe so you can really access and inspect every centimetre of the insides. Just bear in mind that it can be quite an involved process that will involve a level of understanding of your home's drainage system.
6. How to clear a blocked downpipe with tools
If you need a plumber, they'll get to your place with a van full of specialised downpipe and drain clearing tools. Perhaps you already have a plumber's snake or you can grab one at the hardware store, as they're very good at smashing away those blockages. Get it wrong, though, and you can smash not only the blockage but also the downpipe.
7. Check the connected guttering
Sometimes, the problem with your blocked downpipes is related to the guttering. It's not too hard to get up that ladder to clear out the accumulated leaves and debris, which could resolve the downpipe blockage. And if it's been a while since you cleaned out those gutters, why not do it now because it's the perfect preventative measure for how to unblock downpipes in the future anyway.
8. Using chemicals with caution
You might find some chemical products on the market for how to clear a blocked downpipe. And while they can be effective, they need to be used sparingly and with extreme caution and confidence as they can cause damage to pipes as well as the environment.
9. Regular maintenance
Whether you've resolved your problem or not, don't ever forget that regular basic maintenance really is the key to preventing blocked downpipes into the future. Scheduling a quick or professional routine check and cleaning can save a lot of hassle in the long run.
10. Know when to call a plumber
How did you go? Blocked downpipe all fixed? If not, it's time to call your friendly local plumber, because stubborn or complex blockages or potential damage to your downpipes is always best handled by experienced and licensed technicians.
First or last resort? Seek professional help
Yes, it's something you can often resolve all by yourself. But bear in mind that tackling blocked downpipes can actually be a challenging DIY project that can easily go badly wrong. While our 10 tips on how to unblock downpipes offer the perfect starting point, they're actually no substitute for professional expertise.
If you're unsure or the problem persists, it's always safer and more effective to seek the help of a qualified plumber - like In Deep Plumbing, the best and most affordable Gold Coast plumber. We're your go-to solution with $0 call-out fees and lifetime workmanship guarantees, offering you unparalleled service and true peace of mind. Don't forget, sometimes the best DIY of all is knowing when to call in the pros, so don't hesitate and reach out to In Deep Plumbing and our friendly experts today.
