Unblock a downpipe — HomeGraft

Clear a blocked downpipe safely by working from both ends with rods and water, checking the gulley first.

UD-01Set up safely before you startOnly tackle this in calm, dry weather. If you need a ladder to reach a hopper head, use a stable stepladder on firm, level ground and have someone hold it if you're working above head height. Wear rubber gloves and eye protection, since stagnant water in a blocked pipe can carry leaves, silt and vermin droppings.

1 pair · Rubber gloves

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1 each · Safety glasses

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1 each · Stepladder

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UD-02Find where the blockage isLook at the top of the downpipe first, where it meets the gutter (the hopper head) — overflowing water or visible leaves mean the blockage is high up. Then check the gulley at the base for standing water or debris. This tells you whether to start clearing from the top, the bottom, or both.

1 each · Torch

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UD-03Clear the gulley at the baseLift the gulley grid and scoop out leaves and silt with a small trowel or a gloved hand. Put everything straight into a bucket or bag, not onto the path, since wet silt is slippery. Make sure the grid itself is clear before you move on to the pipe.

1 each · Small garden trowel

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1 each · Bucket

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1 each · Refuse sack

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UD-04Rod the downpipe from the topIf you can safely reach the hopper head, feed a flexible drain rod or plumber's wire down into the pipe. Push firmly and twist to break up the blockage, adding sections gradually. Stop if you feel strong resistance — forcing rods too hard can crack the pipe.

1 set · Drain rod set

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1 each · Flexible drain snake (plumber's wire)

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UD-05Flush with water and check the flowPour water into the top of the pipe using a hose or watering can and watch the gulley at the bottom. A steady flow out means it's clear. If the water backs up or drains slowly, there's still a blockage further down.

1 each · Watering can or hosepipe

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UD-06Rod from the base if it's still blockedFeed the rods up from the gulley end this time, working upward in short pushes. Alternate with a water flush from the top to help wash loosened debris all the way through.

UD-07Check the underground run if water still won't drainIf water still pools at the gulley after rodding, the blockage may be in the underground pipe beyond it. If that pipe connects to a shared or public drain past your boundary, contact your water company rather than digging up the garden yourself — they're responsible for shared drainage beyond the property line.

UD-08Tidy up and do a final checkRefit the gulley grid and rinse and dry the rods before storing them. Put the cleared debris in the garden waste bin, not down another drain. Run water through the system once more over the next few days, especially after rain, to make sure it's staying clear.

PART OF A BIGGER PROJECT

Get the outside of your house ready for winter

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