Unfortunately, drain blockages are common. The signs that your drain is blocked can occur in the home or outside. In particular, many property owners realise that it is harder to spot a blocked drain when it is outside since you are not hanging around outdoors as much. So, the time you realise the problem, it can be bad.
So, what causes an outside drain to become blocked? Well, there are many reasons why this can happen. Let’s investigate.
What Materials Can Block an Outside Drain?
There is a range of situations that can lead to an outside drain becoming blocked. When you know what they are, you can reduce the risk of this happening in the future. So, let’s take a look at the main culprits for blockages.
Fallen Leaves
In autumn, are there a lot of leaves falling from trees around your property? This is often one of the reasons why an outside drain will become blocked. The leaves end up inside the drain and stick together. When this happens over time, this creates a blockage that will not allow water to drain away.
Tree Roots
You have no control over where tree roots are going to grow. Indeed, in some cases, they can grow in the wrong places and this can be near pipes to do with the drainage system. They will keep growing and this can lead to damaged pipes, as well as blockages to occur. If you do have a blockage, call a company like FS Drainage as soon as possible. This is going to help to solve the issue before it gets worse. In addition, you will need to get the tree roots removed to avoid this problem occurring again.
A Stuck Object
There are some circumstances where objects can get stuck in the drainage system. When they are not supposed to be there and they are large enough, they can create a blockage. This can happen suddenly and you will start to see signs that a drain is blocked.
Food Waste
A lot of people put food waste, grease and oils down the kitchen sink without giving it a second thought. But, this is something that can also build up over time and lead to a blockage in the outside drain.
How Do You Know If an Outside Drain is Blocked?
There are a lot of tell-tale signs that your outside drain has a blockage. Here are some you should look out for so that you can seek professional help.
A Bad Odour
When there is something blocked in the drain or pipes, you are soon going to smell it. If you notice that there is a very unpleasant odour outside your home and you cannot pinpoint what it could be, it might be your drains.
A lot of Leaves
Often, with an outside drain, you can see what could be causing the blockage. For example, if you know that there are a lot of trees around it and you can see piles of leaves around the place, this can be what is causing the problem.
Water is Not Draining
Inside the house, there can be signs of a blockage. This can include the water draining away closely from the sinks you are using. You should not ignore this sign and instead, make sure that you call the professionals as soon as you can.
How Do I Know If It Is My Outside Drain?
Many people are confused when it comes to an outside drain. Namely, does that drain belong to them and is it their responsibility to get it unblocked? Well, most of the time, if the drain is located on your property, this is going to be your responsibility. If you own the home, you own the drain too. So, it will be your responsibility to call a drainage company and have the blockage cleared.
If you are renting a property, the drain is probably something that your landlord will have to deal with. They own the property. Just make sure that you check the rental agreement you signed to make sure this is not something that is contained in the small print.
If the drain is located on public land, this is not going to be your responsibility, even if you own the property. Instead, you can get in touch with the company that is in charge of the drains in your area to let them know what is going on and that there is a blockage.