How to Unclog Outdoor Drain Pipes and Prevent Damage

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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. Even so, you may periodically experience issues like outdoor drain and French Drain pipes clogged with dirt and debris that causes backups and flooding.

Unclog A French Drain

Unclog French Drain Pipe

Whether you have issues with outdoor landscape drains, or you need to find out how to clean a French Drain clogged with mud, you’ll be glad to hear that this common problem can be relatively easy to solve, especially with professional assistance from yard drain cleaners.

Signs Your Outside Drain is Clogged with Mud

Generally, it’s not too difficult to spot an outdoor drain clogged with mud because it will start to back up, resulting in visible pooling. However, if water is still getting through in a trickle, backup could seep into the soil surrounding the drainage pipe, leading to soggy soil, areas of overly lush growth, foul odors, and the presence of mold, mildew, or fungus.

If you’re not certain you have a clogged yard drain pipe because there’s no visible pooling, look for these clues of an outside drain clogged with dirt, debris, or roots.

Dangers of a Landscape Drainage Pipe Blocked with Mud or Debris

Landscape drainage operates on a straightforward system. Drainage consist of piping, tiling or an underground catch basin that collects excess water and funnels it away from your property, often to a termination point at the street, a drainage field, or some other safe runoff point.

A clogged landscape drainage pipe can result in significant damage and expense if left untended. First, you may experience flooding from an outside drain blocked with mud or debris. This can ruin landscaping and seep into the base of your structure, leading to water damage, rot, mold, and other issues as a result.

In addition, a landscape or backyard drain clogged with debris could cause unseen damage to the drainage system itself. Significant blockages could cause pressure to build and pipes to crack or collapse. This can lead to further yard damage and greater expense for repairs.

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. While you can, of course, unclog outdoor drain and French Drain pipes as needed, this is a good example of an ounce of prevention being worth a pound of cure.

How to Unclog an Outside Drain Pipe

How to clear outside drain pipe? In some cases, figuring out how to unclog outdoor drain pipes is relatively easy, and you could save some money with a DIY approach. However, severe blockages or damage to the yard drainage system will probably require professional help to address. For outdoor landscape drainage cleaning, repair, and installation in Houston, contact our team at Zodega TIS.

Outside Drain Clogged with Mud

Here are a few things you can try first when you experience a yard drain pipe clogged with dirt or detritus.

  • Remove Debris at the Outdoor Drain’s Opening

Your yard drain pipe will have some kind of grate over the opening to catch large debris like leaves, twigs, and so on. Like your gutters, these grates need to be cleaned regularly to avoid a clogged outdoor drain pipe. Simply cleaning grates regularly could go a long way toward preventing flooding and damage to landscaping.

  • Check Drainage Cleanouts and Termination Point

All drainage systems feature a termination point (where water drains out), and many also have cleanouts or inspection portals at regular intervals so you can easily access drainage to check for clogs or damage.

If you’ve already cleaned the opening of your yard 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.

  • Snake or Hose Out Outdoor Drains

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. For dirt or mud, you might need a professional to use a hydro-jet or other method to clear the blockage.

  • Flush Outside Drains Periodically

If you keep your outside drains squeaky clean with regular flushing, you’ll never have to learn how to unclog or clean a yard drain pipe. There’s a lot to be said for preventive maintenance if you want to spare hassle and expense in the long run.

Seek Professional Help for Outdoor Drain Clogged with Mud

If you can’t unclog a storm drain on your own, or you’re not keen on getting your hands dirty, it’s time to contact experts in outside drainage, blocked storm drain cleaning, and French Drain cleaning. The qualified professionals at Zodega TIS can assess the cause of your clog, address damage, and get your system back in working order.

Houston Outdoor Drain and French Drain Cleaning Service

The talented outdoor drain and French Drain cleaning team at Zodega also offers custom residential landscaping in Houston, as well as ongoing residential lawn services in Houston.

Whether you need landscaping, irrigation, or yard drain cleaning services in Houston, contact our experienced team at 713-480-2372 or contact us online today to learn more and get a quote.