It can be a worrying time when an outside drain becomes blocked, so let’s look at what you need to know about clearing it.
What causes a blocked drain?
There are several reasons a drain may become blocked, leading to an unpleasant smell and stagnant water. These include a build-up of cooking oil, food waste or toilet roll, leaves entering the drain or covering the grid, and tree root damage. Other objects can also become lodged in a drain, preventing it from working properly.
Check the damage
Before you decide what to do, you should assess the drain to see whether you can easily remove anything that is blocking the grid. If this isn’t the case, the cover will need to be removed to look inside. The Chartered Institute of Plumbing and Heating Engineering warns against DIY jobs on drainage systems, especially if they are external, so you will need to call a professional. A professional can carry out a CCTV drain survey to check the interior of the pipes for damage and blockages.
If you a property owner and looking for a CCTV drain survey Birmingham, companies such as wilkinson-env.co.uk/drainage-services-cctv-surveys-midlands/cctv-drain-surveys/cctv-drain-surveys-birmingham can help. They will insert a live camera into the drain, which feeds images back to enable them to provide a detailed report of what the problem is and the solution they recommend for fixing it.
Clearing a blocked drain yourself
If you want to tackle a blocked drain on your own, it is best to prepare thoroughly and use rubber gloves, goggles, and a face mask. If the blockage is far down into the drain, you may need to use drain rods or a pressure hose to move it; if using a rod, it should be carefully inserted into the drain and then the pipe. If there is any resistance, you should twist the rod in the middle of the blockage; if you can’t feel anything, connect more rods to reach further in. You should also have a bucket to hand and bin bags for disposing of any waste.
