Rainwater Drain Blocked With Mud; What Homeowners Need to Know

The winter months often mean much heavier rain, but if your rainwater drains are blocked with mud – especially if they’re the older clay drainage systems – this can be a recipe for disaster. This month at Express Drainage Surveys, we’re going to be looking at why rainwater drains can become blocked with mud, with tips on how to clear the blockage, as well as advice on how to prevent future blockages.

As your leading local experts in CCTV drain surveys, we offer detailed reports and recorded images, providing accurate diagnoses for any drain blockage, helping homeowners to protect their property from flooding. If flooding or pooling water is affecting your property, don’t hesitate to contact us.

What rainwater drains are designed to handle

Briefly, rainwater drains in the UK were designed to handle roof runoff, surface water and patio drainage. This is different to foul water drains, which take wastewater from within a property. A rainwater drain simply helps carry away the rain in any deluge.

It’s important to note that mud, silt and debris should not be accumulating in your rainwater system if it is working properly.

Common UK causes of mud blockages

If you’ve found that mud is blocking your rainwater drain, you might be wondering how on earth it got there. The answer is that there could be a number of things happening to your drains and your property. Here are some of the common causes of mud blockages within a rainwater drain:

Run-off from lawns, flowerbeds and unpaved areas during heavy rain. This is especially likely if these areas slope towards drains, as the rainwater will pick up mud and debris as it flows.
Silt washed in from driveways, patios and gutters. Gradually, rainwater will eventually wash away debris and dirt from these hard landscaping surfaces, leaving the water nowhere else to carry it than your drains.
Autumn leaf fall combined with mud to create a plug. Multi-coloured autumnal foliage may look great, but once it’s fallen, it tends to get pushed towards drains by the wind and rain, forming a pretty effective clog.
Collapsed or cracked pipework allowing soil to enter. This often hidden issue can allow mud and surrounding earth into your system, forming a blockage without you knowing until it’s too late.
Blocked gully trap or grid. Sometimes the blockage can occur right on top of your rainwater drain, especially if there is mud and foliage nearby to quickly accumulate.

To avoid some of the worst effects of this issue, you should keep your eyes peeled for slow draining, standing water, overflow from your downpipes and the smell of stagnant water. These signs all point to a drain blockage, and it could be due to excessive mud and debris inside the system.

Why you shouldn’t ignore mud blockages

It might feel like you can just ignore a mud blockage if you’ve never had one before, hoping it will go away on its own. However, there are several reasons why this is not a good idea:

You risk creating local flooding. Not only does that mean you’re putting your own property at risk, but you’re putting other properties around you at risk. If your neighbours also have an issue with standing water or blocked drains in any way, it can create real havoc when the two issues feed into each other.
Potential for internal damp or structural damage. Rainwater that sticks around and floods alongside your property because the drain is blocked can do serious damage, soaking into your walls and your foundations.
Pressure on joints can lead to pipe displacement. Leaving all that mud and the pressure of rainwater in your drains can cause your pipes to shift at the joints when it becomes too much. This leads to further problems to fix on top of the one you already have.
Repairs cost more if left untreated. Following on from the previous point, the additional repairs and potential pipework replacement can leave you even more out of pocket. It’s cheaper to solve the issue of mud in the drainage system than to have whole portions of pipework excavated and replaced.

Tools and equipment to clear a mud-blocked drain

We recommend always seeking professional services to help clear a mud-blocked drain, but here is the equipment you’ll need if you’re going to attempt this task yourself safely:

Protective gloves
Drain rods
Hosepipe with good pressure
Bucket and trowel for manual removal
Drain cleaning brush
Eye protection
Non-slip footwear
Long screwdriver or stick
Wet vacuum for mud extraction

As you can tell, there is a lot of equipment needed, and it all adds up, so consider whether it really outweighs bringing in the professionals.

Step-by-step guide to clear a rainwater drain blocked with mud

If you still intend to try the DIY method yourself, here are some general steps to follow:

Run initial safety checks, such as assessing for electrical hazards and the water depth.
Remove any surface debris into the bucket and dispose of it safely.
Direct a hose into the drain to try to flush the mud with pulsed bursts.
If needed, insert a drain rod and follow the instructions provided.
Rinse the system thoroughly for 5-10 minutes and check that everything is flowing as it should.

How Express Drainage Surveys can diagnose and fix underlying problems

If you have an issue with mud in your rainwater drain or if you’re just not sure what is causing the issue, then don’t worry, because at Express Drainage Surveys, we have a wide range of drainage services to help both homeowners and business owners.

The following are just a few options we have to help you clear your drains without having to put your safety at risk or get your hands dirty:

Whether you need a diagnosis using professional drainage CCTV services or an expert team to help remove a blockage, simply get in touch with us today and we’ll be happy to help put the flow back in your rainwater drains.