Stormwater pipes

 

The function of a stormwater pipe

Stormwater pipes are put in place to protect your property from heavy rainfall and provide general drainage. They should fall from the roof towards the kerb, out to the street and off your property. It is important they hook up to the Council storm water pipe drainage system or other termination point to remove water from your property. The image below shows a stormwater downpipe which is not functioning correctly. The water will pool on the ground as it is unable to escape:

 

Allowing consistent dampness/water to pool in your yard creates the perfect environment to attract termites and mosquitoes. This is not ideal for obvious reasons.

 

Stormwater pipe blockages

A blocked storm water downpipe will result in stagnant water on your property. Quite often, stormwater downpipes fill up with leaves and silt. Tree roots may grow into the stormwater down pipe or in the underground pipes and cause them to block up. Some symptoms indicating you may have a blocked stormwater pipe are:

 

  • The downpipe or guttering may overflow during periods of rain
  • Water may flow from the roof into the house
  • Bubbles may be seen coming up from the ground
  • You may be able to physically see tree roots growing into the pipe
  • There may be flooding around the house area when it rains

 

How a plumber will clear a stormwater pipe blockage

In order to unblock a stormwater pipe, your plumber should put a drain camera down the line. This will tell them how far down the line the blockage is and what it causing it. A high pressure water jetter should then be used to blast the line clean, so it is free of leaves, silt and tree roots. The camera should then be reinserted once more to ensure the blockage has been cleared entirely. A pipe locator can also be used to mark out where the pipe problems are in order to offer a more permanent solution. If tree roots have entered the line, the pipe may need to be relined.

 

Keeping your stormwater pipes clear

  • Try to keep gutters clear of leaves by cleaning them regularly
  • Check storm water pipes prior to heavy periods of rainfall to ensure they will drain correctly
  • Do not drive heavy machinery over the yard where stormwater pipes are located as this may crush them
  • Watch out that tennis balls do not end up on the roof or in the gutter as they can become blocked in the downpipe restricting the flow of stormwater