Avoiding Blocked Stormwater Drains

Disaster can strike very quickly when it comes to blocked stormwater drains. Though designed to cope with large amounts of water during heavy storms, when your stormwater can't drain away it puts your home at risk.

How? With serious flooding and poor drainage, your home’s foundations could shift or weaken. If that happens, walls will tilt – or perhaps the whole house will begin to lean over. Underpinning is an incredibly expensive repair job.

To prevent any and all problems, it’s best to know exactly how to look after your stormwater drains. And if there’s an emergency, you know just what to do.

What Does a Stormwater Drain Do?

First up, let’s quickly clarify what stormwater drains are. Because they’re different to your sewer system.

Designed to prevent flooding, stormwater drains funnel and divert rainwater through a serious of gutters on your roof, driveway or pathways. Your personal stormwater ultimately connects with the public gutters and drains found along each street.

This water all runs directly into public waterways and at no point is filtered. That’s the main difference with sewerage. All your waste and sewerage from bathrooms and kitchens is processed through waste treatment plants before being released into public waterways.

Because stormwater is not treated or filtered, it’s incredibly important you do not pour chemical cleaners down a blocked stormwater drain.

What Causes a Blocked Stormwater Drain?

When it comes to stormwater drainage, it’s important to understand what causes blockages. By being aware of the factors that contribute to blocked drains, you can take preventative measures and avoid potential issues.

Here are some major causes of blocked stormwater drains:

Debris Accumulation

• Garden debris such as leaves, twigs, and other organic materials can accumulate in the drains over time. Accumulation in roof gutters is a particularly serious problem, particularly after heavy rain.
• Rubbish, such as plastic bags or bottles, can also find their way into the drains and cause blockages.

Tree Root Intrusion

• Tree roots are naturally attracted to water sources, including stormwater drains.
• As roots grow, they can infiltrate the drain pipes, causing obstructions and potentially damaging the system.
• Almost 95% of stormwater blockages can be blamed on tree roots.

Soil and Sediment Build Up

• Over time, soil particles and sediment can accumulate in stormwater drains.
• Construction sites and areas with loose soil are particularly prone to this issue.

Poor Maintenance

• Lack of regular maintenance, such as cleaning and inspection, can lead to blockages.
• Neglected drains are more susceptible to debris accumulation and other problems.

Broken or Damaged Stormwater Pipes

• Cracks, collapses, or misaligned pipe sections can occur due to age, ground movement, or external factors.
• These structural issues can impede the flow of stormwater, resulting in blockages, particularly after heavy rainfall.

Understanding the causes of blocked stormwater drains – from garden debris to intrusive tree roots – is the first step towards preventing them. Regular maintenance, proper disposal of rubbish, and careful landscaping planning can go a long way in ensuring the smooth flow of stormwater and avoiding drainage problems.

How Do You Prevent Stormwater Disasters?

Preventing stormwater disasters is essential to protect your property and the surrounding environment. By taking proactive measures, you can minimise the risk of blocked drains and avoid potential damage.

Here are some practical steps to prevent a blocked stormwater drain:

Regular Maintenance

• Schedule routine inspections and cleaning of your stormwater drains to remove any debris or blockages.
• Hire professional plumbers or drainage specialists to ensure thorough maintenance and identify potential issues.

Proper Disposal

• Dispose of rubbish, leaves, and other waste materials in designated bins or compost piles, instead of allowing them to enter the stormwater system.
• Avoid dumping oils, paints, chemicals, or hazardous substances down stormwater drains to prevent contamination.

Landscaping Considerations

• Plan your landscaping to prevent soil erosion and direct water away from your stormwater drainage system.
• Install rain gardens or permeable surfaces to help absorb and filter stormwater naturally.

Tree Maintenance

• Regularly trim tree branches to prevent them from overhanging or encroaching on stormwater drains.
• Be cautious when planting trees near drainage systems, as their roots can intrude and cause blockages.

Educate the Community

• Raise awareness about the importance of stormwater management and its impact on the environment.
• Encourage neighbours and local businesses to adopt responsible practices to prevent stormwater drain blockages.

By implementing these preventive measures, you can significantly reduce the likelihood of a blocked stormwater drain and mitigate the risks associated with stormwater disasters. Remember, being proactive is key to maintaining a healthy and efficient drainage system.

You can always call your local expert from Plumber Near Me for routine maintenance, as preparation for the wet season. They can clear out a stormwater drain using the latest equipment in a non-invasive and environmentally friendly manner. This reduces your chances of flooding and water damage down the track.

My Stormwater Drain is Flooding, What Now?

It’s too late to prevent a disaster and your drains are flooding. Maybe with the first serious downpour, the flooding was minimal. But with the next one, it could put your foundations at risk. What do you do?

When you know you’ve got a blocked stormwater drainage system, call in the experts at Plumber Near Me. They can offer you several long-term solutions, including:

• Hydro-jet drain cleaning: The best way to clear a blocked stormwater drain is with hydro-jet drain cleaning. The hydro-jet is the most advanced and effective drain clearing tool around. It uses highly pressurised jets of water to break down garden material and tree roots. There’s no need to dig up trenches or tear out your pipes. High pressure water jetting can reach far down the drain and remove hard-to-reach blockages.
• CCTV drain inspection camera: Your Plumber Near Me technician will find the blockage with a CCTV shower drain inspection. Once the technician has cleared the blockage they’ll perform another CCTV drain camera inspection to confirm the drain’s looking good as new.
• Pipe relining: If necessary, they can perform pipe relining so everything’s looking crisp and flowing freely. Stormwater pipes given a relining service will last for many years to come.
• Drainage excavation: As a last resort, for when a blockage cannot be cleared or the stormwater drain is beyond repair, drainage excavation will be required. This heavy duty process requires some serious machinery and trench digging. But your local licensed plumber from Plumber Near Me is the most knowledgeable around.

Plumber Near Me will prevent further damage and have your stormwater pipes as good as new in no time, saving you from considerable damage to your plumbing system and your home’s foundations in the future.

Finance Options** Blocked Stormwater Drain Service

A blocked drain of any kind never happens at a convenient time, particularly when it comes to your household budget.

That’s why Plumber Near Me offers a range of finance options** payment options for eligible customers. So when you stormwater drainage system is flooding and you need clearing services, there’s no need to delay urgent repairs. Your professional plumber can take you through the easy application process on site and approval usually only takes a few minutes.

You can select a payment plan with one of our providers – Zip or Humm – and then enjoy the convenience of making weekly, fortnightly or monthly instalments, depending on your choice of plan. Some plans even accept a $0 deposit, which means you pay nothing upfront.

We also accept payment by cash, cheque, direct transfer and credit card (Visa, Mastercard or American Express). Then Plumber Near Me can get on with clearing your blocked stormwater drainage system and meeting all your plumbing needs.

Please note: This information is provided for advice purposes only. Regulations differ from state to state, so please consult your local authorities or an industry professional before proceeding with any work. See our Terms & Conditions here.