The drainage system outside your home, including the sewer pipes under your yard, are your responsibility. That means, that if they are damaged or clogged, you are the one that has to pay to have the pipes cleaned, unblocked, or even repaired/replaced.
This can quickly become expensive. That’s why everyone should invest in a drain camera. This simple device slides into your pipes and gives you a live feed of what is inside. It may not sound pleasant but it’s an effective way of spotting issues, such as clogs and breakages. You can then deal with them before they become too serious or expensive.
All you have to do is use the camera every few months to check your pipes.
Alongside this, you should be aware of what causes drains to block and how you can prevent this from happening. This will help to prevent flooding in your yard and potentially your home.
1. Leaves & Debris
If you look in your yard you will have at least one drain that removes excess water from your home. It’s likely to connect to the main drain which means a clog could affect the plumbing and appliances in your home.
Outside drains are very good at attracting water. But, they also attract all the debris that comes with the water. Leaves and soil are the worst candidates. They will enter the” drain and clog the pipes.
Fortunately, this is easy to deal with. Simply make sure your drain has a mesh cover, preventing the leaves and other debris from getting into the drainage system. All you have to do then is regularly remove any debris build-up on the mesh.
2. Breakages
Another very common cause of outside drain blocking is breakage. This can mean a damaged or broken pipe or simply damage to the drain itself. In both scenarios, the water won’t be able to get past the damaged section and it will start to pool around the drain.
This is one of the most obvious signs that you have an issue that needs to be addressed.
Repairing a broken drain or pipe can be expensive and time-consuming which is why you should regularly inspect them. It will allow you to deal with the issue before it causes drainage problems.
3. Foreign Objects
If you have more than one drain in your yard there is a good chance at least one is missing any sort of cover. This means that any object, such as a stone or a toy can fall or get swept into your drains. Naturally, larger objects are likely to clog the pipes and will quickly cause a blockage. They can also damage the inside of the pipes, potentially giving you a nasty repair bill.
You can avoid this issue by covering all drains with a metal plate. It should allow water and very small pieces of debris through, nothing else.
Remember, visually inspecting your drains and using the drain camera regularly will help to prevent issues from arising. That’s much nicer than trying to clear a blocked drain while it’s raining hard.
