How to Unblock a Downpipe?

paperclap

Hi all,

A downpipe at the front of our property is blocked. Or at least, partially.

Our property is a 1955 bungalow, so no doubt this downpipe contains asbestos. Where this downpipe leads to (e.g. a soakaway, mains sewage), I don't know. Is there a way of knowing?

The front of the roof gets a fair amount (not loads, but clearly enough) of moss build-up, which of course has found its way into the gutters and into this downpipe.

Their is a hole in the bottom of the downpipe. I'm not sure whether this has broken and come away due to the excess moss build-up, or whether the previous owner had cracked it open in an attempt to unblock it!

For now, I've put a downpipe balloon at the top of the downpipe to prevent further moss getting in. And, in the "broken" hole, I've slotted some chicken wire (don't worry, it won't go down the pipe, as held in place), to catch most if not all of the remaining moss in the downpipe above.

Below the downpipe, where it enters the ground, is blocked I think. I've cleared as much of it as possible.

Is there a best practice to clear the build-up? Is there a way of knowing where this pipe leads to?

I'm hoping to remove and replace (with a PVC downpipe) this summer... but got a lot on my plate (what with a bloody leaking roof!).

Thanks in advance.

FreeBear

To see if the downpipe discharges in to the foul water sewer, you'd need to lift manhole covers. Look for pipes running off in the general direction. Optionally, you could pour some tracing dye into the gutter and flush it through with a bucket of water.

In all probability, the downpipe goes off to a soakaway. Quite likely the underground pipe has cracked and is now blocked with roots. If this is the case, start digging with the target of replacing the lot with PVC - Also well worth installing a Floplast Interceptor to cat all the crud coming off the roof. Not particularly cheap, but does make for clearing out any potential blockages so much easier.

paperclap

Thanks FreeBear.

Could very well be the case that the pipe underground has cracked, as just below the surface level there was in fact a little root growing out of it!

Robin9

laurencewhymark said:

Hi all,

..................

Our property is a 1955 bungalow, so no doubt this downpipe contains asbestos. ................

Could well be cast iron leading into earthenware duct.

Is it backing up to a joint on the downpipe ?

Have you got/borrow/hire flexible drainage rods ?

Replacing the downpipe is straightforward particularly as you are in a bungalow.  What may be hard graft is digging at the base of the downpipe

TELLIT01

I'm not sure about the 'in all probability the downpipe goes off to a soakaway'. On our property both foul and rainwater go into the same drains.

stuart45

On 60's and earlier properties combined systems were quite common.

FreeBear

TELLIT01 said: I'm not sure about the 'in all probability the downpipe goes off to a soakaway'. On our property both foul and rainwater go into the same drains.

stuart45 said: On 60's and earlier properties combined systems were quite common.

Much will depend on the rules in force in the area when the property was built. Around here, suburban & rural developments generally had soakaways whilst combined drains were used for urban/high density builds. Local soil conditions would also be a factor..

Perhaps I should have said "fingers crossed" rather than "in all probability".