As autumn approaches, many homeowners are thinking about cleaning gutters in Concord as part of their routine home maintenance. At the moment, it is also important to take care of any clogged downpipes that could prevent proper drainage of the gutter system. Rainwater, which cannot drain properly, can damage the water in the foundation of the house and can create an ice dam in winter.
Some homes have downpipes that end in above ground, others have downpipes that power the underground PVC pipe. Downpipe systems can be clogged anywhere, above or underground.
Removal of pavements above the ground materials:
- Garden hose
- Hose nozzle
- Plumbing hose
Process:
Remove the bottom end of the drain pipe from the underground PVC pipe or drain pipe extension.
Set the garden nozzle to the highest pressure setting. Glue the garden hose to the bottom end of the gutter and turn on a strong water jet.
Remove all leaves and sticks that may fall from the bottom of the launder. If clogging persists, go to step 4.
Send a plumber hose to the bottom of the downpipe to loosen the debris in the downpipe. Be careful if you use an electric plumbing hose because the spiral end can get stuck in the drainpipe when it is misdirected.
Place the garden hose a second time at the bottom of the drainpipe and turn on a strong water jet. If this does not completely remove the clog, repeat the process of inserting the hose and screw into the drain chute until the clogged is removed.
Clog removal underground materials:
- Garden hose
- Hose nozzle
- Hand crank drain screw
Process:
Remove the bottom end of the drain pipe from the underground PVC pipe or drain pipe extension.
Set the garden nozzle to the highest pressure setting. Plug the garden hose into the underground PVC pipe and turn on a strong stream of water. If this does not clear the clog, go to the next step.
Insert the hand crank drain screw into the PVC pipe. Turn the screw until it clogs. Do not use an electric screw at this stage, as it may damage the PVC pipe. Push the screw through the plug and remove the dirt.
Glue the garden hose to an underground PVC pipe and turn on a strong stream of water to flush the dirt out of the pipe. Repeat steps 3 to 6 until the clog disappears.
If you cannot remove the plugger with a handheld drill and water jet, you may need to replace the pipe section that has been clogged. To locate clogging, insert the hand drill bit into the pipe. When the screw reaches the clogging, measure the distance from the pipe hole to the end of the cable; it will tell you where to find clogging in the pipe.
Dig a pipe in the right place. Use a hacksaw to remove a section of pipe using a plugger. Insert a clean pipe section and use cement or joint to connect the two pipe sections.
Helpful products
There are several inexpensive inventions on the market that are aimed at keeping downpipes clean and preventing or repairing clogging. These inventions include: Filters that prevent the leaves from falling down the downpipe.