Before we go into how you can clear a downpipe drain, first we’ll give you some useful information on what one is, and the purpose of the pipe within your property. Initially, they can look daunting and you might instantly feel nervous about even looking at a downpipe but we’re here to put your mind to rest and talk you through the process.
The full name is a rainwater downpipe, which is connected to your drainage system. The purpose of the extension is to direct rainwater from any building and as you can imagine every single one in London has worked triple overtime this summer. Typically, these are used to form the roof guttering to a ground drainage system. The rainwater downpipe is also referred to as a downspout, drain sprout, leader or roof drainpipe but we’ll keep it simple and call it by its original name.
So, start by carefully removing the loose section of the downpipe. The reason we say do it with ease is that trapped water or debris could be lodged within the pipe. Things could get messy if you put some force into it. Once the rainwater downpipe is removed, give it a good clean and remove any pesky debris that is visible. Wearing protective gloves is recommended. Initially, the blockage may not be visible within the first section so keep removing the clips and pipe section until you’re comfortable you have removed everything that is visibly blocking your pipe system.
You might not be able to remove any debris by hand, so you can use several tools to assist you. We recommend a length of wire or bamboo stick. Or, you can go one better and get hold of an electromechanical snake! One piece of equipment that will certainly do the trick is a high-pressure jet wash. Guaranteed to get the results you need.
If any of the above fails, don’t be too down. Sometimes trying to fix drainage systems on your own can be very tricky. If you need further assistance, then please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us. You can email us on service@happydrains.co.uk or call us on 0800 849 8099.
