Downpipe into the ground.

SteekPie

Hello.

I have a 1970 house with a downpipe that goes straight into the ground, rather than into a drain.
The top of the pipe overflows when it rains.
I can see the top of the pipe is blocked, but can't see how far down it goes.

I'm worried if I start faffing with it I'll cause a blockage further down.

My question is what type of trades I should call to look at this.

Searching throws up lots of guttering and roofing companies, but they don't seem like they could check the bottom of the pipe that it's all OK.

Suggestions would be welcome.

Thanks.

Jumblebumble

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6688257/downpipe-into-the-ground

I would start with a wet and dry vacuum cleaner and a stick

Eldi_Dos

Get a medium sized screwdriver, hold it by the shaft and tap the handle up and down the downpipe. Try and work out if it is full or empty, the blockage may be at the top where it joins the guttering if you are lucky.

Bigphil1474

Is there a manhole cover nearby? Have a look in there. You should be fine ringing a drainage company.

EssexExile

It could go into a soakaway or into drains. Either way a drain clearing company will look at it for a price, I've found Drain Doctor to be good but it really depends on the person they send.

WIAWSNB

Could we have a pic of where the pipe goes in to the ground?

Have you tried excavating around it at all?

Boohoo

Is it a shared guttering with a down pipe on your land?

Can you get access to the roofline guttering and have a look safely?

A roofer mate of mine used to tie a heavy weight to long string and insert it into downpipes and let descend down until it stopped and he could work out where the blockage was.

UnsureAboutthis

Hi

Is it rain water only or sink/etc as well as that makes a difference.

If to the back garden, it may be going into a soakaway - its just the roof water that goes into that

Drain cleaning outfits are the best best as even rain water alone can create several feet of blocagle

Ectophile

Trades? Try DIY first, if it's plastic drainpipe.

See if there's enough slack to wiggle the bottom sections of the drainpipe apart, then pull up the bottom section. The chances are a big pile of wet leaves will fall out. Then clear the drain below.

silvercar

Faffing around with a stick may solve the problem, it did for me. Often some leaves and other garden rubbish gets caught at the top, clearing that could be enough,

WIAWSNB

A photo would still be good…

Even if the DP is embedded in concrete as it disappears into the ground, if would be a simple DIY task to saw through the pipe just above ground level, which should allow the pipe to be removed for cleaning, (perhaps also requiring a DP clip to be unscrewed), and the pipe in the ground to be examined.

The DP can be refitted using a slip-on DP connector.