What is stormwater?
Stormwater is the rain that falls on the roof of a building and flows into its gutters and downpipes. It’s also any rain that runs off paved areas, driveways, paths and gardens into underground gutters and drains.
This is separate from the water that flows from your sinks, showers, toilet, bath, washing machine and dishwasher inside your house. That’s sewer water, and it goes into a different drain system.
Stormwater is all the water outside your house. Sewer is all the water inside your house.
All homes and commercial buildings have some sort of drain system to carry rainwater away. It goes into underground stormwater drains, then usually into rivers and creeks and out to sea.
What blocks stormwater drains?
Stormwater carries everything it picks up from the surfaces it runs over. That can include leaves, litter and soil, and any residue from paths and driveways. This waste can build up inside your stormwater drains and block your drains and pipes.
The other big problem is tree roots. They get into stormwater drains easily. They love the water that collects inside, and all the rotting leaves too. It’s like compost for them, both food and water. Once tree roots get in, they grow very fast and thick and can quickly block the whole drain.
Some properties have stormwater pits. These collect extra water and hold it for a while to help prevent flooding in heavy rain. The pits then slowly let the water out through a series of linked pipes. Both the pipes and the pits can get blocked.
If you own the property, it’s up to you to look after your stormwater drains. In heavy rain, watch for overflowing gutters, blocked downpipes or flooding. These are signs of serious problems inside your drains. It’s time to call in the experts.
The hidden problem behind stormwater blockages
In recent years, both sewer and stormwater pipes have changed from 100mm wide to a thinner 90mm. Because they’re narrower, they block more easily. Sadly, most new houses built in the last few years have these narrower 90mm stormwater drains. Many also weren’t laid fully to the rules, so they tend to have more problems.
Smaller stormwater pipes are also a bit harder to clear. But our skilled, experienced team will take on the challenge and fix your problem if you have these 90mm pipes.
How we clear your stormwater drains
The Drain Man has the gear and know how to keep your stormwater drains flowing well. We always aim to fix your problem quickly.
Talk it through on the phone
When you call, we get a clear picture of your blockage and other problems. This helps us work out the likely causes ahead of time. So when we arrive, we can check the problem straight away and get to work fast.
Look inside
We put a CCTV inspection camera inside your drain. We see exactly what’s going on in your pipes to cause the blockage.
Clear the blockage
We unblock the drain with a high pressure water jet or a drain clearing machine.
Check it again
We do another camera inspection to confirm the blockage is gone. We also use this footage to check the pipes for cracks or broken sections.
Fix it for the long term
If your stormwater pipes have other problems, your Drain Man specialist will give you a long term fix so they don’t come back.
Do damaged stormwater drains have to be dug up?
Maybe your stormwater drains have tree root damage. Maybe they’re old, cracked, broken, crushed or just badly blocked. Please don’t despair. You don’t have to dig up and replace them.
After we clear them, if they need repair, our team can reline them from the inside. Relining needs no digging. So there’s no damage or disruption to your gardens or paths, and nothing to restore once the work is done.
To reline your drain, we cut a length of new lining. We pull it into your old pipe and move it carefully into place. Then we inflate the liner and hold it there until it presses firmly against the inside of the drain and hardens.
Once the new lining hardens, your drain is even stronger than before. The lining in your stormwater pipes carries a lifetime warranty, so you have nothing more to worry about. We highly recommend relining to keep your stormwater drains working perfectly for years to come.
How to prevent stormwater drain problems
There are simple things you can do around your property to help stop blockages in your stormwater pipes. They also help keep pollution out of our waterways.
- Clean up anything that can easily wash into your stormwater drains in heavy rain, like leaves and grass clippings.
- Make sure gravel and soil on your property can’t easily wash away into your stormwater drains.
- Clean up after your pet, especially if your dog goes to the toilet in your backyard.
- Never pour paint or chemicals down any drain. Take them to a recycling centre instead.
- Wash your car on the grass, or at a commercial car wash.
- If you have a septic system, keep it well maintained to prevent leaks.
Don’t let the next heavy downpour damage your property. Talk to our friendly team about your stormwater drains today. Call us or enquire online.