Blocked outside drain

[sairejayne]

Can anyone please help me, I have just moved into a house and it has a few drains outside. (small grid with a pipe going down). These have obviously been neglected for some time and are blocked with mud. Does anyone have any advise how to clean them out? Would kitchen sink and plughole stuff do the job?
Thanks

[Panic Button]

Try a long thin stick, such as from a pot plant or metal barbecue skewer, and a hose.

You will get filthy but have fun in the meantime.

Just keep prodding and poking.

Obviously try to remove any mud that you can, but I guess there won't be much of that.

[4getmenot]

yes try rodding it, kplughole stuff ruins drains. if this fails a high pressure water jetting company

[gonzo00]

i regularly have to clear my drains of mud leaves etc. always use my own household power washer rather than ring those expensive commercial companies...it usually works well so if ya know anyone who has one try that first! :)

[janetsflower]

my husband uses the mop much to my annoyance, shoves it down the drain and uses it like a big plunger, meanwhile i usually scream and shout then storm of down to wilkinsons for a new one. Well would you have it back in the kitchen after its been down the drain!

[sairejayne]

Thanks for all your help. I think I will have to try rodding it as the pipe is only about 4/5cm diamenter beneath the grate and i'm not sure I would get anything else in there. It is absolutely totally chocka with mud so i guess it will be tough - have no idea how it got there!
Do i just shove rods down and pull it out again??

Janetsflower, i'm not suprised your went crazy at your husband - typical thing a bloke would do! I bet he didn't understand why you were so angry!

[landscaper2]

4-5cm pipework sounds like a DIY bodge to me as soil pipes are 4" or very min 3" and an outside drain should either have 'P trap' that collects the sludge and muck or if its rainwater to a soakaway, a 4" soil pipe straight to the soakaway. Go to a garden centre and find the smallest adjustable hose attachment, set it as a jet and poke it down the pipe and keep working it down and back. Can you find out where this pipe goes - have a look in the nearest inspection cover, you may be able to work from the other end as well. Try that before trying to rod such a small pipe.

[sairejayne]

I think it is defo a bodge DIY job! The pipe is actually smaller than the grate (also caked with mud).
What a nightmare - sounds very messy!!

[beejay1124]

janets flower -your hubby's method is very effective-thought it was only myself & my workmate knew about that one
yup landscaper this should have been a 4" pipe -had it of been so and you didnt want to use the mop method,you could have put your arm in a bin -liner and lifted the stuff out into a bucket
might be of interest to janetsflower

[sairejayne]

Do you think getting a long stick (broom handle type thing) and just shoving that down will be ok or will it cause damage?

[landscaper2]

There's probably a bend nearby, so a broom stick wont go far and you stand a chance of ramming 'whatever it is' further down the pipe and if the pipe is what it sounds like ie a 2" waste, maybe popping off a bend, Try the water jet/hose, you never know and be patient it may take a while. I wouldnt think the 'plughole stuff' will do the trick as it will not attack dirt/mud - mainly hairs/congeled fat & slime etc....yuk!! What goes into this drain, by the way?

[sairejayne]

Thanks Landscaper, It is just purely for rainwater. One is just next to the entrance of the garage (build after house was as an extension in the garden - but not actually attached to the house) and another is next to the side of the house in the back garden near the drainpipe from the guttering.
I just can't understand how mud has gotten into them or where from? It is such a pain!!

They are not causing the garden or patio to flood or anything, just thought that we should clear them just in case... and it looks a bit manky too. :- )