How to have cleans drains without chemicals

Yard drains need to be properly cleaned out from time to time so that they can work properly without any interruption. There are ways for you to do this job yourself. If you decide to do this yourself, here is what you need to do.

How a Yard Drain Works

Before we get to the tips and tricks of how to effectively maintain and unclog the drains without using any chemicals, let’s discuss how drains work. Yard drains have a very simple structure. The structure contains a small underground catch basin that is covered by a plastic or metal grate. This grate is meant to capture runoff water. There are also one or several branch drain pipes that are carrying the captured water and taking it from the underground basin all the way to a specific termination point. Most of these pipes lead the water towards a street or into a storm drain.

These drains are made to send water to a retaining area, dry well, or any surface-drainage field. You can also implement a type of piping in your yard draining system that will allow a certain amount of water to drain into the soil and water your plants and lawn along the length of the pipe. If you don’t think you need such a system, you can opt for a simple rigid plastic pipe without any perforations. This type of pipe will simply carry the water straight to the termination point.

Tools and Supplies You Will Need

In order to properly maintain and take care of your drainage system, you will need certain supplies and tools. These are some of the essential tools and supplies you should purchase:

Screwdriver

Shop vacuum (optional)

Hand cultivator

Garden hose and water supply

Rubber drain bladder (if needed)

Power auger (if needed)

Instructions

Before you try maintaining or fixing your backyard drains, you need to get familiarized with the process of cleaning and unclogging the drains. That’s what these instructions are for. They are here to be your guideline and check list at the same time. By following these instructions you will know for sure that you have everything checked and covered. This will help you get the job done without missing any crucial steps.

Autumn can especially be problematic for backyard drains. This is when falling leaves cause the most clogging in the drains and if you are not quick to react and solve this problem, it can cause you quite a lot of trouble in the long run. Also, there is an extra step you will need to make if your roof gutters are connected to the yard drainage system. If this is the case, you will have to thoroughly clean and unclog the roof gutters first before you start cleaning the drain pipes in the yard. This will make sure that the water can even get to the drain pipes in the first place.

When it comes to instructions that will help you complete the process of unclogging in the correct order, here is a list of steps you need to go through:

1. Remove the Drain Grate

Firstly, you need to locate every catch basin in your yard before you start unclogging your pipes. Then, make sure you remove the drain cover. That’s the part set in the rim of the catch basin and it is usually either plastic or metal. Most of the drainage systems have only one drain grate. However, some drainage systems may have more than one.

So, to make sure that the drains are ready to be unclogged, check to see if your drains have more than one grate. You need to open them all. Look for the grates in low-lying areas of your backyard. That is where they are usually placed. Also, check the spots around the patio, pool deck, as well as the area where roof gutter downspouts meet the ground. That is somewhere near the house foundation. These drain grates will most likely be blocked by piles of leaves and other kinds of obstructions that came down from the gutters. That’s why you will most likely have to dig a little to reach the grates. Some grates will simply be opened with a screwdriver, while others may be secured and attached to the rim of the catch basin.

2. Clean Out Debris

The next step is to start cleaning out the debris from the drains. Start by pulling out as much as you can with your hands. Try to reach both the catch basin and drain pipes. Make sure you are using protective gloves and for the parts you can’t properly reach try using a hand cultivator. This can help you scoop up debris that you can’t reach with your hands. Another great tool that you can try using is a shop vac. This handy tool will help you get farther down into the pies so that you can suck out the debris.

If your drainage system has pipes that branch out into different directions, you need to clean out every branch and every pipe. Expect to find all kinds of obstacles. There will probably be some smaller rocks, leaves, dirt, and maybe even trash. You need to remove all of that if you want to make sure that water can get through without any disruption.

3. Check the Termination Area

Then, you need to determine the location of the termination area. This is the key part. It’s the area where the drain pipes are emptying out into the basin. Look for this spot somewhere near the street curb. That’s where it will most likely be, but it can also be somewhere around your yard where a slope can channel the water out.

You need to make sure that the termination point is properly cleaned out. Before you get to that point, check to see whether the drainage system in your yard has a grate in the termination point. Some systems have it, some don’t. You can either use your hands to scoop out the debris or you can purchase a vacuum that will help you get into the farther parts that are hardly reachable.

4. Flush the Drain Pipes

Once you are done getting rid of the debris, it’s time for blocked drain cleaning. This is the part that you can either do on your or call the professionals to help you out.

If you decide to do it on your own, here is how you can do it. For this part you will need a garden hose to flush the drain pipes. Simply insert the hose into the pipes and try to get them in as far as possible from the catch basin. Turn on the water and let the hose do the job for you. The water will flush out all of the left-over debris that you weren’t able to reach with your hands. You can also try using more hoses simultaneously to make the water force even stronger.

The water will be coming out dirty at the beginning. Once you see the water coming out entirely clean, that’s a sign that your pipes are completely clean.

5. Reassemble the Grates

Now that the pipes are clean and debris-free, it’s time to put the grates back in their places. Reattach them back where they are supposed to be. Your pipes should be working just fine, without any obstacles and debris blocking the water’s way.

Tips for Dealing with Tough Clogs

Lastly, here are some additional tips that may help you clean out your clogged drains. rnA rubber drain bladder

This rubber bag can be attached to the water hose and you can fit it into the drain without any problems. Once you turn the water on, the bag will become pressurized and it will seal the pipe. Once it reaches its maximum, it will shoot water out at a high pressure level.

A motorized drain auger

This useful tool can help cut through very hard obstacles in the drains such as tree roots. A motorized drain auger is often used for cleaning sewer drains from the households all the way to the city main. These tools have a rotating cable and a cutter head that is efficiently cutting through all kinds of debris that can be found in the drains.

If you’re planning on getting one of these, check the size of your pipes first. Most of the drains are 3 to 4 inches in diameter. This piece of information is crucial because you need to rent out a machine that will be suitable for your yard pipes.

Hydro-jetting

Lastly, water-jetting can help you use a higher pressure of water to unclog the yard drains. This can especially be helpful when there is a bigger pile of dirt, sludge, or grease in the pipes that can’t easily be cleaned. Unlike a drain auger, water-jet is more efficient and this time, you might actually want to invite a plumber.

Conclusion

In conclusion, it’s possible for you to clean out your yard pipes on your own. However, if you decide to do so, make sure to closely follow these instructions to ensure that all goes well.