Unblock drain gully

[Twobins]

Hi - can anyone give me advice as to how to unblock a drain gully? Its one of the road type gullys with the iron grid. The gully is full of pine needles/decomposed leaves and soil. Have been thinking of using a two handle post digger or hiring a powered post digger to loosen the stuff up. Any ideas of what i could use to get the stuff out? The drain could be about 4 feet deep - too long for my arms. I have about six of these to do.

Thanks

 

[Hugh Jaleak]

Yes! Get a gully emptier!

I would strongly suggest you look for a quote from a contractor who has a specialist vehicle to undertakes this type of work. A lorry mounted roadsweeper with a gully arm would suffice, it should be able to do all 6 in about 30 mins.

I think by the time you have purchased tools to do the job and done one pot, you'd wish you'd never started. There is the danger of broken glass, sharps etc amoungst the detritus, and then disposing of the material you have removed, believe me, it doesnt smell very sweet....

 

[Twobins]

Thanks for that - I had the chap round re using a gully emptying road sweeper and he says he would have to dig the drains as the stuff is too dry/compacted. That's why I thought I should try it myself.

 

[Hugh Jaleak]

It can get messy, but any decent machine should have a high pressure lance, this should suffice to loosen the detritus which can then be sucked out. I think your man either doesnt want the job, or is trying to stretch it out. If he has a Johnston the suction on those is unbelieveable, they'll pick up bricks like they're feathers.....

If the Johnston struggles, believe me you have zero chance by hand, but from my experience I cannot see a decent machine having any problems unless the gulleys are full of concrete.