You know how it goes. There’s a blockage in your home’s sewer system and now rainwater or wastewater won’t drain away. That’s when you call the local plumbing expert, right? That might be the first thing that springs to mind, but there are other ways to tackle these problems too. You don’t need an expert to unclog an underground outdoor drain pipe, but it will help restore normal drainage as soon as possible. So what can you do? Read on for some handy tips on how to unclog underground outdoor drain pipes easily and cost-effectively at home.
How To Unclog An Underground Outdoor Drainage Pipe?
- First, you need to make sure that you have the right tools for the job. A pipe wrench is a must for the job. You will also need a long piece of hose or another flexible tubing to fit over the drainpipe and your hand to hold it steady.
- Make sure that the pipe is clear of debris and dirt. Use a long pole or broomstick to push any debris down into the drainpipe, then use a garden hose to clean out any remaining debris with a strong jet of water.
- If you are using a hose, connect one end of it to your faucet and run water into your pipe until it starts flowing freely again (make sure you have your hand over the end of the hose). If you are not using a hose, use an old rag or piece of cardboard as an improvised stopper in order to control how much water comes out when you turn on your faucet valve; do not allow too much water to come out at once.
- Now that all debris has been removed from inside the pipe, use a washcloth or some other cloth with lukewarm water and soap (not soapy dishwashing liquid) to clean all surfaces inside your pipe; make sure that all areas are thoroughly wetted down with soap before proceeding further.
- 5. Fill up another bucket with hot tap water and add some bleach (a ½ cup of bleach per gallon of water should be sufficient). Now put this bucket on top of your pipe and let it sit inside the pipe for about 10 minutes to kill any bacteria present in your drain.
- Now fill up another bucket with cold water and pour it into your pipe to rinse out the bleach (do not use warm water or you will have a breeding ground for bacteria).
- After rinsing all the bleach out of your pipe, fill up another bucket with hot water and pour some liquid dishwashing soap into it, then add some more hot water to dilute the soap. Wash all surfaces inside your pipe thoroughly with this mixture of hot and cold water; be sure to make sure that no soap is left behind.
- Once all areas inside your pipe have been washed out, use a scrub brush or old toothbrush dipped in vinegar to clean off any mineral deposits on any surfaces inside your drainpipe that might be causing problems (you can also use a broomstick or stick with a small branch at one end to help reach places that you can’t reach with a scrub brush).
- Now that all debris has been removed from inside your drainpipe, add some boiling hot water mixed with ¼ cup of salt (like Morton’s kosher salt). This will keep bacteria from growing in the pipes, but be careful not to overheat the pipe; if you do overheat the pipe, you should let it cool down for about 15 minutes before adding more boiling hot water mixed with salt again so as not to damage anything else inside the drainpipe.
- Once the water has cooled down, add 1 cup of bleach to the pipe and let it sit inside for about 10 minutes before pouring out of your drainpipe; now you will have rinsed all the bleach out of your drainpipe so that it is all clean and ready to be used again.
What’s The Best Way To Unclog An Outdoor Drain?
- Check the water pressure. Make sure the hoses are not clogged or blocked by debris.
- Flush out the pipes with a hose or power washer to get rid of any large objects blocking the pipe.
- Use a wrench to turn back on the water main valve and slowly open it up; this will allow air to escape from within the pipe and will unclog it in no time.
- Use a snake to clear out any obstructions in the drainpipe; this may require you to remove some of the coverings above it, making sure that you don’t damage any pipes along with your snake as you go down into it and unclog it properly.
- If you have a long drainpipe, use a bucket to put some water down it and wait for the water to drain out; this is a great way to unclog a long drainpipe.
- Use high-pressure water jets from the hose or power washer to clear out any obstructions; this may require you to spray the jet at an angle so that it can go down into the pipe and unclog it properly.
- Use a pipe-cleaning tool such as a snake, wire brush or combination of these tools; this will help you clean out clogged pipes and get rid of any obstructions that are in there.
- If your pipes are really blocked, then use an auger with a long handle; this will help you remove any obstructions in your pipe and help unclog it properly.
- If none of these methods work for you, then call one of our plumbers who can come around and see what they can do for you!
- If you still have clogged drainage pipes that are causing you a lot of problems, then call a plumber and they will be able to help you with the problem.
Use A Rotating Snake To Unblock The Drain
- Find the drain, press the snake down and turn it clockwise
- The drain will be unclogged
- Make sure you don’t leave too much water in the drain
- Turn it anti-clockwise to get rid of any remaining water
- Use a plunger or rubber snake to push the remaining water out of the pipe
- Use a hammer and a sturdy stick to push the blockage out
- If you have an auger and a plumber’s auger bit, use them to clear blockages
- If you don’t have a tool that can clear blockages, then call in a plumber
- If the drain is too deep, then it’s going to be difficult to unclog it
- Use a snake on the outdoor drain
Conclusion
These are three simple ways to unblock an outdoor drain on your own. If none of these methods work, you may need to call in a professional plumber. A clogged outdoor drain can be unsightly and inconvenient, but the solutions above can help you unclog the pipe and restore normal drainage as soon as possible. Keep in mind that each of these solutions can be dangerous if you don’t follow the instructions properly. If you’d like help unclogging an outdoor drain, you can hire a plumber through sites like Thumbtack.
