Rain Drain Maintenance

• Posted on January 21, 2021
• by mikew
• in Fix It & Use It
• No Comments.

Outside drains are an item we seldom think about. They are located on driveways, in the middle of yards, and around walkways providing the vital function of collecting rain water and diverting it to drain systems – underground piping. These pipes end up in drain fields and city storm systems and most importantly down grade and away from our house! As I often tell clients, water is brilliant! It will always find the shortest route to the lowest point on the property. This is often footings, basements and crawlspaces. That’s why these drains have been installed, to outsmart water and allow it be friend rather than foe. It is super important to take a little time to maintain outside drains.

So what is needed?

First, be sure you keep landscape materials (bark, sand, dirt, leaves) away from the drain opening. Water will grab these items and soon these dense little objects will collect at the bottom of the piping and fill it in. Inevitably debris will enter but we don’t want to make it too easy for the buildup to happen.

Second, open the drain and take a look inside. Scoop out any items that has collected. Some drain boxes have a debris collection area below the drain piping. This trap ensure debris does not immediately enter the piping. Collection traps have to be cleaned out regularly before they are filled. You will be scooping soggy decaying slime so gloves may be preferred. What to do with the goo? One person’s slime is an other person’s fertilizer so mix it into your garden compost!

Third, ensure the drain is properly covered with a screen. This will protect the drainage system from large objects like pine cones, rocks, sticks, etc. This cover should close securely but also be able to be removed. If the louvers are broken replace it. I’m surprised by how many drains are open and when I peer in with my flashlight, filled and blocked by debris.

Finally, test your drains. I have found the most helpful way to check drains is to watch them during heavy rainfall. Is water pooling up? If so, there is a restriction. Or, after rain fall, shine a flashlight down and look for standing water. There will be standing water in the collection trap but see if there is standing water at the level of the pipe entry. Pipes should be clear of water. On dry days, run a garden hose in the drain for ten minutes and see if you can get the drain to back up. If you know where the end of the pipe is observed for running water.

Exterior drainage systems have a life expectancy. At some point they will fill up with enough organics and sand that they no longer move water. Sometimes they get crushed or broken which allows them to be filled with debris. Careful maintenance will extend their life but don’t be surprised if you need to do repair or replacement every decade or two!

My sons and I spent last spring digging a muddy trench in the midst of the heavy rainfalls when we discovered our drain pipe was broken and blocked! Oh the memories!