How to unblock downpipe?

dzg

Hi - i have a blocked downpipe, appears to be full of leaf debris. I want to try unclog it myself. But I'm not sure where it goes, other than underground. Any tips? Photo of downpipe near back wall, and also backyard stormwater pit which has a pipe (see red) beside it with water in it. the stormwater pit has a pipe in it but it appears to be closed (does that look right, that it is closed?) and it is dry. Any tips welcome.

Am looking to figure out where the back wall downpipe drains to so that i can know when it unclogged.

Thanks

MitchellMc

Hi @dzg,

Just to clarify first, is the stormwater pit you’ve shown located anywhere near the blocked downpipe, or are these possibly two separate issues? For the downpipe itself, you can start with some simple checks. Have a look from the top of the gutter to see how much leaf matter is sitting in there. Since you’ll need a ladder, make sure you check out How to use ladders safely. If you can reach any leaves from the gutter, pull those out first. Sometimes, if the blockage isn’t too solid, running a garden hose down the downpipe on full spray and moving it up and down can flush the debris through. You could also try using something like an auger or even a broom handle to gently shift the debris, but be careful not to compact it further down. If none of those methods shift the blockage, a plumber may need to disconnect the bottom section of pipe to clear it out properly.

As for the pit in your backyard, it does look like the pipe has a cap on it. Normally, a pit would have one or more inlet pipes and an outlet, but with just one capped pipe, it might actually be inactive. The inspection outlet with standing water in it is more of a concern, as it suggests your stormwater line may be blocked further downstream. A drainage plumber could auger the main stormwater lines to see if that water level drops and confirm where the blockage is. So, while there are definitely a few things you can try yourself on the downpipe, you may need a plumber to properly check and clear the whole system. 

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Mitchell