Drain not blocked but not draining

[Dylan T]

Hi all -

I have an outdoor drain that has a rainwater gutter pipe and the output of a washing machine going into it which only drains very slowly; so slowly that it overflows before it drains. It has a leaf cover, but I removed it thinking the drain was blocked but I'm not so sure it is. I tried shoving my hand down and removed the odd leaf, then tried a hose and even a pressure washer, as well as two bottles of industrial drain unblocker (the kind you mix together to activate). However there's been no change. I'm wondering if this is an installation problem as the pipe for the washing machine ran to a further away drain when we moved in and I'm thinking this might be why. I'm just trying to find out if this is possible to know whether I should stop wasting my time trying to unblock it.

If it helps, I tried sticking a chimney sweeping rod kit down there too (which had a end on it for drains) but I can't get it down as the pipe seems to make some crazy tight bends.

Thanks

 

[blup]

A pressure washer would not have the power to shift a blockage further down the drain, you need to buy or hire a drain rod set. Is there a rodding eye at the point above where the drain changes direction underground as it may be accumulating muck there.

https://www.screwfix.com/c/tools/drain-rods/cat7670003?cm_sp=managedredirect-_-handtools-_-drainrod

I have never had a drain unblocking liquid that worked for me.

blup

 

[lostinthelight]

What are the chances of it being a trapped gulley so a rod wouldnt go down it?

 

[Nige F]

Hi all -

I'm wondering if this is an installation problem as the pipe for the washing machine ran to a further away drain when we moved in and I'm thinking this might be why. I'm just trying to find out if this is possible to know whether I should stop wasting my time trying to unblock it.



Thanks

Sounds like the w/m is going into a rainwater drain that goes to a soakaway. Re instate the w/m to the original drain, which is probably a proper foul sewer drain.

 

[blup]

Gulleys can go into soakaways or lead to the main drain, the OP needs to come back with further info.

It may be that the pipe underground has fractured or otherwise failed

Blup