How To Clear Landscape Drains & Prevent Costly Flooding

Have you ever experienced flooding around your home due to landscape drains not properly working? For this reason here you can learn how to Clear Landscape Drains & Prevent Costly Flooding to help prevent being stuck with a unwanted pond in your yard.

What causes drains to clog?

• Roots
• Dirt/Mud
• Yard Clippings
• Leaves
• toys (tennis balls, baseballs, kids toys)

Over time, dirt runoff slowly fills the pipes and causes drains to back up. This buildup makes snaking difficult because dirt packs the lines. In some cases, tree roots completely invade and block the pipe. Water pressure can sometimes flush out small toys, but larger items like tennis balls often lodge at turns. You may need to excavate these blockages to remove them and restore proper drainage.

How do I prevent my landscape drains from clogging?

although it's not guaranteed to stop the drains from backing up, there are a few things you can do to help prevent the drains from clogging.

• Flush drains with a water hose once a year to flush out dirt debris.
• make sure drains have a cover around them to prevent toys and balls from falling in.
• If a drain is in the dirt, put 1/2" or 3/4" gravel surrounding the drain to help reduce dirt from entering.
• Don't plant bushes or landscape trees on top of drain path.
• Repair sections of pipe where roots have entered.

What do I do if my drains are clogged, and it starts to flood?

First things first—don’t panic. In about 50% of cases, a large pile of leaves at the entrance causes drains to back up. Learn how to clear landscape drains and prevent costly flooding.

• Check for broken drain covers, as foreign objects likely fell in and caused the clog.
• Look to see if any water is coming out of the drain exit (usually at the curb, or in some cases on a hillside)
• If only one drain isn't flowing while the others are, use a water hose to flush out any loose dirt or leaves.

When should I call a plumber?

If you’ve checked the drains and they still aren’t clearing, it’s time to call a plumber for professional help. In many cases, a snake won’t clear the drain, so plumbers use hydro jetting to remove stubborn debris or stuck objects. If jetting doesn’t remove roots, dirt, or debris, plumbers may need to repair the drains. When significant root damage affects the drain, plumbers will need to repair or replace it. If you need help with your storm drains, call the Alpine Plumbing team to help, we specialize in landscape and storm drains. Call Us Today at (626)385-4001

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