Then, pour 1 cup (240 ml) of distilled white vinegar into the drain to start a chemical reaction that will break up the clog. Take a look at this step-by-step guide for unblocking your drains. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. When using a sewer rod, direct the rod through the pipe until you reach the obstruction. Like your gutters, these grates need to be cleaned regularly to avoid a clogged outdoor drain pipe. I traced a circle around the drain cap, then cut it about 15-20mm bigger. Yes, you can make your own outdoor drain cleaner using vinegar and baking soda. Drain rods can be purchased from your local hardware store. First, you may experience flooding from an outside drain blocked with mud or debris. Use thick waterproof gloves that come up to your elbow. Check sink drainage across your property. If you can’t get it to work, you may need to call a professional. Put the kettle on (or use the stove or microwave … If your drain is slow or completely backed up, there are ways you can clean it yourself without calling a plumber. Figure A: Under-Floor Drain System. If you’ve ever used a snake to unclog indoor drains, you can try the same approach with outdoor drains. The only caveat is that snakes are relatively useful for clogs like leaves and twigs that can be grabbed and pulled out en masse – they’re not so good with clumped dirt and mud. Gather The Necessary Equipment; If you are confident of having what it takes to unblock your drain pipe outside, then you should keep in mind the essential equipment. Landscape drainage operates on a straightforward system. Pipe relining is by far the best and most effective way to unblock a drain … Chemical Drain Cleaners. Use biocides safely. Twist, push and pull the cable to break it up and unclog the drain. Whether you break the clog apart by hand or use a solution of baking powder and vinegar, your drain will flow like new! You can stick drain rods down outside drains to try to break up clogs or obstructions that may be blocking it. Drain covers can be purchased at your local hardware store. This can ruin landscaping and seep into the base of your structure, leading to water damage, rot, mold, and other issues as a result. A typical plumbing drain system consists of a network of pipes. To unclog an outdoor drain pipe, take along a plastic trash bag to put any found debris that is likely to be the source of the clog. Put on leather gloves for this task, as thin rubber gloves are dangerous as they can get caught in the coils and tighten around your hand. Wear an oven mitt while you pour the water in case it spills down the side of the pot. How to Unclog a Drain with a Snake. Outside Drain Unblocker: Tools and Chemicals. If the drain is in an area with a lot of foot traffic, lay down a flat rubber drain screen over it. Step 1: Visual Inspection; If you have a blocked drain, the first thing you need to do is perform a visual inspection. This equipment will make your job easier and faster. Outdoor drains are susceptible to clogging with leaves or mud. The qualified professionals at Zodega TIS can assess the cause of your clog, address damage, and get your system back in working order. Slip the end of the hook under the grate and lift it up. There are many products that are designed exactly for this task, like Domestos Sink & Pipe Unblocker.When poured directly into the blocked drain, these chemical drain cleaners work to dissolve the grease and build-up that cause the blockage. For dirt or mud, you might need a professional to use a hydro-jet or other method to clear the blockage. Clear the Blockage. Follow these steps to use caustic soda to unblock an outside drain: • Pour caustic soda down the drain • Pour water and wait for soda to fizz away • The debris will rise to the top • Add more water to remove the debris. How to Unblock an Outside Drain. Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. The narrow metal … Boiling water. Chemical drain cleaning. % of people told us that this article helped them. References. If you have severe storms, check your drains the following day to see if there is any debris. Insert the hose into the underground pipe until it stops. Grate hooks can be purchased from your local hardware store. This should release the pressure in the sewer line and force any water that has backed up into your home to drain. Boiling Water. Run the snake into the opposite end of the drain, if it was not long enough to go through the entire … When they solidify, they can cause a blockage. [1] X Research source If you keep your drains squeaky clean with regular flushing, you’ll never have to learn how to unclog an outside drain pipe. If you’ve already cleaned the opening of your drain and there’s still backup, check cleanouts and the termination point next to see if you can spot and remove other areas of blockage. This is usually a short, white pipe about 3 to 4 inches in diameter and sealed with a screw-on cap. Always read the label and product information before use. – A pressure hose that can clean the drain after you’re done unblocking it – A screwdriver that can fit in blocked areas – Eye goggles if there’s a potential danger of a pipe burst or anything similar – A large version of the regular drain rod, or as some like to call it, a drain snake Push the rod forward and pull it back to break up the clog. Put on elbow-length rubber gloves before you begin. Push until the hose stops, indicating that you’ve probably reached the blockage. Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 73,002 times. Gather the tools you need to unblock drain pipe parts — gloves, ladder, bucket, water jet and brush or scrapers to loosen debris. A few methods you can take unblocking your outside kitchen drain yourself are; Pour water: Fat is the most common debris people find in their kitchen sink. Whether you have exterior drainage for a commercial or residential property, you need to clean and inspect regularly so you don’t end up with a yard or driveway drain clogged with substantial mud. Make sure you’re wearing your rubber gloves before putting your hands in the water. Safety Warning. We know ads can be annoying, but they’re what allow us to make all of wikiHow available for free. There are a number of solutions that can be employed if you want to try to unblock an outside drain yourself. A normal main machine would be my choice, because it pushes the debris out of the pipe, chops up any roots and scrapes the inside of the pipe clean. If you have a drain rod, otherwise known as a plumbing or drain snake, in your home, then you may be able to use this to clear out an outside drain blocked with mud. Boiling water will kill any grass near your drain if it spills on the soil. Put on protective gloves, and search for the outdoor drainage pipes that may have clogged due to some sort of outside … Before plunging cover the overflow with a damp cloth to ensure a drain seal and force the air out through the drain blockage. Generally speaking, you should check for blockages by assessing the flow of water through the pipes. Well, you can – and here’s how to do it: Simply pour some of the caustic soda (a few tablespoons should do it) down the drain Next, add some water and allow the soda to fizz away The debris causing the blockage will now have risen to the top Whether you have issues with outdoor landscape drains, or you need to find out how to unclog a French Drain, you’ll be glad to hear that this common problem can be relatively easy to solve, especially with professional assistance from outside drain cleaners. Proper grading can go a long way toward preventing issues with standing water in outdoor spaces, but for flatter expanses, you may also need a suitable outdoor drainage system to siphon away water and protect landscaping from flooding and subsequent damage. These pipes, which at the end of the run, connect to the city sewer system. If you think a foul water pipe is affected, run the water in your sink or flush the toilet to see what happens. To do this, you should first clear the drain as much as possible using your hands or tools and then scoop out the water to a manageable level. Boiling Water. Pour a bucket of hot water into the sink to melt the blockage. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/8\/85\/Unblock-Outdoor-Drains-Step-1.jpg\/v4-460px-Unblock-Outdoor-Drains-Step-1.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/8\/85\/Unblock-Outdoor-Drains-Step-1.jpg\/aid10596114-v4-728px-Unblock-Outdoor-Drains-Step-1.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"