What Causes a Blocked Stormwater Drain and What Should I Do About It?

Stormwater drains direct water runoff away from your home during heavy rainfall events, funnelling it into street gutters to prevent or mitigate flooding and other issues. If water starts pooling around your property after rainfall, it might indicate that your stormwater drain has become blocked, which can be caused by many different things. It’s crucial to fix blockages as soon as you can or prevent them from occurring in the first place if possible to prevent the issues that otherwise arise. This blog post offers more details about what causes a blocked stormwater drain and what you should do about it, such as organising residential plumbing services with a team of professional local plumbers.

How Do Stormwater Drains Become Blocked?

Stormwater drains are designed to handle large amounts of water, but they can still become blocked when rubbish and loose organic matter accumulates and consolidates over time. The most common debris include leaves, dirt, pebbles, sand, sticks, bark and mulch that’s washed into the drain after a heavy downpour. Stormwater drains can also become clogged when the pipes themselves are weak, corroded, misaligned or damaged. In addition, trees roots searching for underground water and nutrients can intrude into small cracks in the pipes and block the flow of water.

What You Can Do to Prevent Blocked Stormwater Drains

Being proactive when it comes to blocked stormwater drains can save you a lot of time, money and hassle. You can minimise if not prevent blockages from occurring by maintaining your garden on a regular basis. This means removing leaf matter and other debris from your roof gutters at least twice a year so that it doesn’t end up in stormwater drains during heavy downpours. You may also want to consider installing gutter guards and covers that filter out leaves and debris. These preventative measures will slow down the rate at which rubbish and organic matter accumulates inside drains.

What You Can Do to Fix Blocked Stormwater Drains

When a stormwater drain becomes clogged, it’s important to deal with it as soon as possible. Clogs are unlikely to go away on their own and will usually worsen over time. Ignoring them can cost you a lot more in the long term. Depending on the blockage, you might be able to clear it yourself using a plunger. However, in most cases, you’ll need the assistance of a professional who has the expertise and equipment to deal with it. They can inspect and assess your drain, locating the source and severity of the problem. This allows them to determine the best solution, such as using high pressure water jets to dislodge obstructions or relining/replacing sections of the drain if it’s cracked or collapsed.

Book Local Plumbers to Unblock Your Stormwater Drain Today

The local plumbers at Better Plumbing Solutions can assist you with blocked stormwater drains and other residential plumbing services. Contact us to find out more about what causes a blocked storm water drain and what you should do about it. You can also request a quote and book our services.