Outside Drain Blocked? How to Unblock It in Easy Steps?

Having an outside drain blocked is a nuisance all homeowners. This kind of inconvenience can cause frustrations and worries. Leaving a blockage for extended periods can lead to overflow or back up. 

It is easier to notice blocked indoor drainage, but an outdoor one may take you some time. This is why it is highly advisable to do a regular inspection of your outdoor draining system. Knowing what to do after discovering mud, soil, or any other material blocking your drainage is another essential hack. 

However, such simple problems like blocked drain shouldn’t worry you that much. 

Steps To Unblock Your Outside Drain Blocked

So, what do you do if you find yourself in such a situation? Here are some simple to go steps to unblock your outside drain blocked. 

1. Assess The Problem 

You cannot resolve a problem if you don’t know the problem itself. This means that you have to find the root cause of the blockage. How do you do this? First, remove any of your draining covers. Use a screwdriver where necessary. Now that you have access, start inspecting the area. 

Check thoroughly through the pipe to see if it’s a manageable task or do you need a professional to do it for you. If it is simple and near the surface, then proceed to the next step. However, if it looks challenging and complicated, than you anticipated, ask for help. You can get a local plumber in the U.K to do the task instead. 

2. Get Yourself Appropriate Tools 

Since you’re already sure of what you are dealing with, look for any tool you can use for the job. Some of the essential tools needed for an outside drain blocked include gloves, a draining rod, and long sleeves.

Draining rods are made of steel, long and flexible. They enable you to push through the blockage quickly. Long sleeve clothing helps you to dig the inner part of the drain. You’ll also need protective gear for your eyes and mouth. 

Remember, splatters most likely host sewage bacteria. Prevent getting into contact with so to avoid future infection or illnesses. Some other tools you might need include, pressure hose and a bucket. 

3. Remove Anything That Might Be Blocking The Drain 

Once you open the draining cover, you’re likely to see anything blocking the pipes. If you cannot have a visual, extend your arm in there to see if you can feel anything. Reach through the deep end into other internal systems. 

This is where you use your bucket. Place it by your side and remove anything you can reach. If it is just mad, use the gloves to break the mad into subsections as you remove it out. 

Scoop and scrape all the debris in there since they might be your next nightmare. Throw anything blocking the pipe in the bin to prevent them from draining back. 

4. Flush The Blockage 

The most crucial tool here is the draining rod. Try clearing the blockage from all the accessible angles. This metal should easily slide through any remaining sludge on the far end. You may need to apply more pressure depending on the amount of sludge you’re pushing. 

Roll the rod around. This helps to break part as much blockage as possible. The more it is, the more time it is likely to take you. It may seem an awful job, but it’s worth it. Keep on plunging until you have nothing more left. 

Soon after you clear whatever was blocking the pathway, the water will start to dissipate and drain. A plumber near you in the U.K will advise you to twist the draining rod in an anti-clockwise direction. 

5. Clean Up Any Extra Debris

You need to ensure that this problem doesn’t happen again. How do you do this? By clearing everything around the drain. Use a pressure hose to remove debris and excess debris. Put any waste in the bin and dispose of accordingly.

It is advisable to use a hosepipe because the pressure dislodges debris and any other element loosened from the blockage. The cleaner the environment around your drains, the longer you’re likely to spend without encountering this problem. 

6. Do Regular Cleaning, Check-Up, And Maintenance  

If blocking happened once, it means it can happen again. You can only prevent this by cleaning your drain at least once a month. More often, remove the accumulating debris and mud. This saves you the stress of finding a professional in the future. 

READ ALSO: HOW TO HANDLE PLUMBING EMERGENCY LIKE A PRO

Other Methods You Can Use To Clear Your Outside Drain Blocked

Sometimes using manual clearing may not be the best option. However, there are other methods you can use to unblock your outside drains. These methods are the use of soda and vinegar and natural cleaners. Lets have a look at each of them. 

1. Use Of Baking Soda And Vinegar 

This method is only recommended for minor blockages. It is not ideal for mud and debris clearing. How do you do it? First, you need to remove your drain cover.  Pour one cup of baking soda first, followed by a similar amount of vinegar. This kicks in the chemical reaction. 

Leave the mixture for around 20 to 30 minutes. During this resting period, the combination breaks down any natural mineral that may be blocking the drain. Once the time elapses, take a bucket full of hot water and pour it slowly into the gutters. This is to break any remaining minerals as well as clean the mixture. 

This kind of task should be done carefully. 

2. Biological Cleaners 

Why not try the biological cleaners if you are more of an environmentally friendly person? This type of cleaners contains enzymes that chew through all chemical blockages. It is a good alternative to manual cleaning.

However, it is essential to know that they don’t have limited power compared to harsh cleaners. This means that they may not be so compelling in getting rid of stubborn grime. However, getting rid of soap, hair, and other blockages may work best for you. 

When to Call a Professional 

The methods mentioned above and the steps listed can be useful for silt, mud, or soil clearing. However, this does not guarantee you that whatever way you’re going to use will work. 

Such a situation may become unbearable, and you’ll need a professional to help with the task. In other cases, the blockage may be extreme. If this happens to you, contact an emergency plumber in the U.K before the mess becomes unbearable. 

Other times you may have such a tight schedule that you can’t clear the drain yourself. It is okay to ask for help or hire someone to deal with clearing and other plumbing problems. Furthermore, professionals are they will do more than just unblocking. 

READ ALSO: HOW TO FIND A LOCAL PLUMBER IN UK ?

A person with the right expertise can do a thorough cleaning, installations, and repairs where necessary. More so, they can also check through your inside drains. Apart from the clearing, they also advise how to keep your drains flowing and in the right condition. 

What Methods Do Professionals Use To Clear Outside Blocked Drains? 

Home solutions only require available equipment. However, there are special tools that professionals use to remove any extreme drainage. Some of these methods are: 

1. Drain Roding 

You can use this method at home more often. Professional service providers have customized rods that are better than commercial rods. Technically this is the first method used by all service providers. 

In case the blocking persists, they can move to the next available method they have. 

2. Wet Vac

This method used a high powered vacuum cleaner. This vacuum sucks all the debris out of the drains. It is also fast and effective since it clears the problem entirely. Buying a vacuum cleaner to unclog your rarely occurring blockages might be expensive. This is as compared to hiring a draining professional to do it for you. 

3. Drain Jetting

In such cases where your drains keep blocking more often, this draining method is used. The use of a high powered water jet thoroughly clears anything acting as an obstacle to those pipes. This kind of service is potent and travels around corners and bends.

It also breaks down any tree roots that may have settled in the pipes. In cases where a blockage is way deep, and such tools like draining rods don’t work, a drain jet clears it all. Any other person cannot do this but only skilled individuals.

Conclusion 

Outdoor drains are more often susceptible to clogging. The most common blocks are leaves and mud. This leads to back up or slows drainage. You don’t need to call a plumber to unblock it if it’s not extreme.  

You can use the above steps to break the clog by using hand or vinegar and baking powder. Always keep in mind that prevention is lesser expensive compared to unblock itself. It is therefore advisable to do whatever you can to prevent your outside drain from clogging.