Blocked External Drain When It Rains

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An external drain that overflows when it rains is a stormwater system that is blocked or cannot cope, risking water pooling around and entering your home and undermining foundations. Our licensed plumbers clear the gutters, downpipes, pits and underground stormwater pipes with high-pressure jetting, and inspect the line with a CCTV camera to find the cause, leaves and silt, tree roots, or a collapsed or undersized pipe, and fix it so it handles the rain. Clearing stormwater before the wet season prevents flooding and damage. We clear external and stormwater drains across Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide, with same-day service where we can and an upfront fixed price.

Why choose Same Day Trades for drains that block in rain

We are local, licensed and insured plumbers who do this work every day, so we get it right the first time, with no mess and no surprises on the invoice.

Fully licensed and insured plumbers
Upfront fixed pricing before we start
Same-day service where we can, with 24/7 phones
Workmanship guaranteed and the job left clean
Servicing Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide

Whatever the job, you get honest advice and a tidy, professional result.

Why your drain overflows in rain

An external drain that overflows only, or mainly, when it rains is a stormwater drain that is blocked or cannot cope with the volume of water a downpour brings. Your stormwater system, the gutters, downpipes, surface drains, pits and underground pipes, carries rainwater away from your property, and when any part of it is blocked or undersized, heavy rain overwhelms it and the water backs up and overflows. A drain that is fine in dry weather but overflows in rain is the classic sign of a stormwater problem that only shows under load. We clear and check external and stormwater drains across Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide, so they handle the rain.

Common causes

An external drain that overflows in rain is usually caused by:

Leaves, silt and debris blocking the drain, grate or pit
Blocked downpipes or gutters feeding the drain
Tree roots growing into the underground stormwater pipe
A collapsed, cracked or sagging pipe restricting flow
An undersized system that cannot cope with heavy rain

Leaf litter and silt are the most common, especially under trees, but a drain that keeps overflowing despite being clear may have roots, a collapse, or inadequate capacity. We find which with a camera and address it.

Why it only happens in heavy rain

A common puzzle is a drain that seems fine most of the time but overflows in heavy rain, and the explanation is usually that the drain is partly blocked or undersized. A partial blockage, or a pipe that is too small, lets the light flow of everyday use and light rain through, but cannot handle the surge of water a heavy downpour delivers, so the water backs up and overflows then. This is why the problem only shows under the load of heavy rain. It also means the underlying issue, a partial blockage, roots, or inadequate capacity, is there all along, just revealed by the rain. We clear the blockage and, if the system is undersized or damaged, address that so it copes with the rain.

The damage rain overflow causes

An external drain overflowing in rain is not just a puddle, it can cause real damage. The overflowing water pools around the property, where it can seep under or into the home, damaging floors, walls and foundations, and undermine paving, paths and footings over time. In heavy rain, an overwhelmed stormwater system can flood the yard or even the house. Standing water also creates damp, boggy areas and encourages mould. Because the worst effects hit during heavy rain, when you can least deal with them, it is best to clear and check your stormwater drains before the wet season. We resolve overflowing external drains to protect your property from this rain-driven water damage.

Clearing the drain

We clear external and stormwater drains thoroughly, removing the leaves, silt, debris and roots causing the blockage, and checking the whole path so water flows freely from the roof and surface through to the discharge point. We clear the gutters, downpipes, surface drains and pits, and use a high-pressure water jetter to scour the underground stormwater pipes clean, and a drain machine to cut through roots. Jetting is especially effective, cleaning the pipe rather than just punching through. We restore the system’s full capacity so it can handle the rain. If the blockage keeps returning, we inspect the line with a camera to find the underlying cause.

Finding the cause with a camera

If your external drain keeps overflowing in rain despite being cleared, there is an underlying cause, and we find it with a CCTV camera. The camera inspects the underground stormwater pipe to reveal whether the problem is recurring debris, tree roots growing in, a cracked or collapsed section, a sagging pipe holding water, or simply an undersized pipe. Seeing the cause lets us recommend the right fix, clearing and relining for roots or cracks, excavation for a collapse, or upgrading an undersized system, rather than just clearing it again before the next downpour. You can see the footage, so you understand the cause and the recommended solution to stop the overflow recurring.

Tree roots in stormwater pipes

Tree roots are a common cause of stormwater drains that overflow in rain. Roots grow into the underground pipe through cracks and joints, catching leaves and silt and restricting the flow, so the pipe cannot handle heavy rain and overflows. Clearing the roots restores flow, but they grow back unless the entry point is sealed. For a lasting fix, we clear the roots by jetting, then seal the cracks and joints with no-dig pipe relining, so roots cannot re-enter and the drain keeps flowing in the rain. If your stormwater drain keeps overflowing despite clearing, roots are a likely cause, and we can clear them and stop them returning.

Blocked gutters and downpipes

Often the external drain overflow starts higher up, with blocked gutters and downpipes that cannot get the water down to the drain in the first place. If the gutters or downpipes are blocked with leaves, the water overflows at the gutter, and if the downpipes cannot feed the underground drain, it backs up. So resolving a drain that overflows in rain often involves clearing the whole path, gutters, downpipes, pits and underground pipes. We check and clear the entire stormwater path, not just the drain where the overflow shows, so the water has a clear run from the roof to the discharge point and the system can handle the rain without overflowing anywhere along the way.

Undersized or damaged pipes

Sometimes a drain overflows in heavy rain not because it is blocked but because the pipe is undersized for the roof area and rainfall, or because it is cracked, collapsed or sagging and so cannot carry full flow. A camera inspection reveals whether the pipe is damaged or simply too small. For a damaged pipe, we repair it, relining where it is cracked but intact, or excavating and replacing a collapsed section. For an undersized system, we can upgrade the drainage to handle the rain. If your stormwater drain overflows in heavy rain even when clear, the pipe itself, its condition or capacity, is likely the issue, and we can diagnose and address it.

Clearing before the wet season

Because external drains overflow in heavy rain, the sensible time to clear and check them is before the wet or storm season, so the system is ready to handle the downpours. Pre-season clearing of the gutters, downpipes, pits and underground stormwater pipes, and a camera check if there is a history of overflow, means you are not discovering a blocked or inadequate drain mid-storm with water flooding around your home. If your external drain overflowed last wet season, do not wait for it to happen again, getting the stormwater cleared and any roots, damage or capacity issues addressed beforehand protects your home from the flooding and water damage that rain overflow causes.

How much does it cost?

The cost depends on the job, a straightforward clear of leaves and silt is affordable, while dealing with tree roots, repairing a collapsed or cracked pipe, or upgrading an undersized system costs more. A camera inspection to find the cause of a recurring overflow adds certainty and lets us price any repair accurately. Emergency call-outs during heavy rain cost more than a standard appointment. We assess what is needed and give you an upfront fixed price before we start, and if a lasting fix like relining or an upgrade is needed to stop the overflow recurring, we will explain the options so you can choose.

Same-day and emergency service

An external drain overflowing in heavy rain, with water pooling around or entering your home, is urgent, so we treat it as a priority. Our phones are answered 24 hours a day, and we can usually get a licensed plumber to you the same day across Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide. We clear the gutters, downpipes, pits and underground pipes, and inspect with a camera to find the cause, with an upfront price. If water is flooding around your home in a downpour, call us straight away. And ideally, we clear and check your stormwater before the wet season, so the overflow does not happen in the first place.

Licensed, guaranteed plumbers

Clearing and fixing an external drain that overflows in rain takes the right equipment, jetters, drain machines and cameras, and a licensed plumber who clears the whole stormwater path and finds the underlying cause so it does not keep overflowing. Our team is fully licensed and insured, we clear gutters, downpipes, pits and underground drains, inspect with a camera, and reline, repair or upgrade as needed, and we back our work. You get a stormwater system that handles the rain, honest advice, and upfront fixed pricing. For a plumber near you for an external drain that blocks when it rains, we cover Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide.

Drain blocks when it rains FAQs

Why does my external drain overflow when it rains?

Your stormwater drain is blocked or cannot cope with the flow, so rainwater backs up and overflows. Common causes are leaves, silt, tree roots, or a collapsed or undersized pipe.

Is it a stormwater problem?

Yes. A drain that overflows in rain is the stormwater system struggling, blocked gutters, downpipes, pits or underground pipes, which we clear and check.

Can rain flooding damage my home?

Yes. Overflowing stormwater can pool around and enter the home, and undermine foundations, so it is worth clearing before the wet season.

How do you find the cause?

We clear the drain and inspect it with a CCTV camera to find whether it is debris, tree roots, or a collapsed or undersized pipe.

Why does it only happen in heavy rain?

A partly blocked or undersized drain copes with light flow but not the surge of heavy rain, so it overflows then. We clear and, if needed, upgrade it.

Can you stop it happening again?

Yes. We clear the blockage and fix the cause, roots, a collapse, or inadequate drainage, and can improve the system so it handles the rain.

How much does it cost?

It depends on the blockage and cause. A camera inspection lets us give an accurate upfront fixed price.

Do you service my area?

Yes, we clear external and stormwater drains across Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide, with same-day service where we can.

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