Blocked roof drain pipes are a real pain!
Thankfully, it doesn’t take much skill or professional tools to clear them. Whether you’re having drain trouble or not, knowing how to clear blocked roof drains is a handy life skill to have.
Discover the tell-tale signs that your drains are clogged, find a step-by-step guide to unclogging roof drains, and more in this blog post.
Tell-Tale Signs You’ve Got Clogged Roof Drains
There are some key clues that indicate a blockage in roof drains. If you spot any of these signs, don’t ignore them:
- Pooling Water on the Roof: Water shouldn’t stand after rain is clear — if it does, you’ve got a blockage somewhere in the drainage system.
- Overflowing Gutters or Downpipes: If proper water flow stops around your gutters or downpipes, something is blocking the way.
- Mould or Mildew Around the Roof or Ceiling: Stagnant water and built-up moisture are key symptoms of a blocked drainage system. This moist environment creates a breeding ground for mould and mildew to develop.
- Sagging Roof Sections: Overtime a mix of a blocked roof with pooling water will cause parts of the roof surface to soften and sag. If you spot this, it’s bad news – it likely means the structure of your roof has been compromised.
- Slow Drainage from Roof Outlets: Water can drain extra slowly when there’s a minor blockage in your roof drainage system. While slow drainage is better than no drainage, you should still inspect and clear your pipes pronto to prevent the situation from worsening.
- Water Stains or Leaks Indoors: Spotted some interior water stains? There’s a pretty good chance that blocked downpipes are forcing water back up, which is seeping through the ceiling or walls. This can be a real pain because it leads to mould and causes long-term damage, both inside and outside your home.
- Accumulated Debris: Caught sight of visible debris around the drain opening and along roof gutters, like twigs, bird feathers, and leaves? They are likely the culprits causing clogged drains and stubborn blockages.
How to Fix a Blocked Roof Drain Pipe: Your Step-by-Step Guide
There’s a whole bunch of simple fixes you can try yourself to clear your clogged up drain pipes without calling on professionals.
Before tackling your drains yourself, first things first: make sure you take the right safety precautions, like wearing protective gear if you’re handling chemicals and grabbing a sturdy and reliable roofing ladder (ideally with ladder roof hooks) and boots with good traction when you go up onto your roof.
Here’s your step-by-step guide to fixing blocked roof drain pipes:
1. Clear Surface Debris
See debris clogging the drain opening, along gutters, and on the roof surface? It’s time to get your hands dirty and clear it out – you might want to wear gloves for this. Instead of using your hands, you can alternatively grab a gutter cleaning tool or a stiff bristled brush to clear the areas.
2. Flush with a Garden Hose
You can clear out mild blockages with a good old garden hose. The strong force of water will blast away any built-up debris, pushing through and out of the drainage system. You might need to do a few flushes before everything’s clear.
3. Use a Drain Snake or Auger
Blockages lingering deeper in your piping system call for a plumber’s snake or auger. These handy tools can reach where your hands and arms can’t and are brilliant at dislodging and pushing blockages out of the way.
4. Scrub with a Pipe Brush or Wire
With a little elbow grease and a good quality pipe brush or wire, you can scrub away blockages that are sitting along your pipe or gutter system. Pipe brushes are best for dislodging those extra stubborn clogs, whereas wires are perfect for deeper blockages in the gutter system or drainpipe.
5. Apply a Safe Chemical Drain Cleaner
Pouring the wrong chemicals down your pipes is like adding fuel to a fire — it can cause permanent damage that requires costly repairs and replacements.
Before pouring any chemicals down your pipes, double check they are compatible with your pipe materia. Make sure you’ve got the right protective gear on when handling chemicals, like safety gloves and goggles.
6. Rinse and Re-check
Give your drain system a rinse or two after completing any of the above steps. Keep your eyes peeled for any stagnant or slow draining water. If everything flows smoothly, you know you’ve successfully cleared the clog.
7. Inspect for Damage
If problems persist, give your roof drainage system an extra look over, keeping your eyes peeled for any signs of damage, like cracks, leaks, and signs of wear. If you do see some damage, you might need to book in for a repair.
When to Call a Professional
If you keep running into trouble with your roof drains or can’t figure out what the problem is, it’s time to get an expert over. Here’s when you should make the call for professional help:
- Repeat Blockages: If water still isn’t flowing, even after you’ve tried flushing, snaking, and scrubbing, there’s probably a deeper issue lurking in your drainage system that only an expert can identify and fix.
- Stubborn or Hidden Clogs: Can’t reach or find clogs? An expert has the tools and training to find and clear them.
- Roof Damage: Sagging sections, water stains on your interior walls, and structural trouble all point towards a much bigger issue that goes beyond a simple clog.
How to Prevent Future Blockages
There’s a bunch of ways to protect your drainage system from future blockages. Investing in premium pipe seals, like PipeSnug, will help block out debris from entering drainage systems and stop clogs altogether.
A drain cover is a tried and tested solution that will prevent blocked drains. Gutter guards are another brilliant solution worth investing in. Also periodically flushing out your pipes is a great idea, to prevent debris from building up and getting stuck.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Chemical Will Unblock a Downpipe?
That all depends on the material your drainage system is made up of. Generally, hydrochloric acid is a solid solution that will unclog your roof drainage system. But, you should only use heavy-duty chemicals if other methods, like flushing, don’t work.
Why is My Downpipe Overflowing at the Bottom?
A blocked drain is the most likely culprit causing your downpipes to overflow. Easy fixes, like flushing and snaking, should fix this. If the problem persists, it’s time to seek expert help.