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Anyone used this method to unclog outdoor drain pipe?

Posted on 10/28/18 at 10:26 am
Posted by RedStickBR
Member since Sep 2009
14577 posts
Posted on 10/28/18 at 10:26 am
Here's my situation. I've got two drains in my backyard. Drain 1 is connected via pipe to Drain 2. Drain 2 is connected to another segment of pipe that leads excess water away from my backyard. It appears both segments of pipe (the segment which connects Drain 1 with Drain 2 and the segment which connects Drain 2 with the runoff pipe) have been clogged with black muck, as evidenced by the fact that both drain reservoirs are holding water above pipe level and thus not draining the water effectively. As a first course of action, I've cleared all muck and water from the drain basins themselves; now I just have to find a way to clean out the clogged muck in the actual pipes. I came across this method, but want to make sure it wouldn't put so much pressure on the pipes to bust the pipes instead of forcing the muck to unclog. The pipes are simply the corrugated polyethylene variety and are of course buried underground.

LINK
This post was edited on 10/28/18 at 10:27 am
Posted by jimbeam
University of LSU
Member since Oct 2011
75703 posts
Posted on 10/28/18 at 10:57 am to
We’re gonna need some MS Paint up in here.
Posted by Chuckd
Louisiana
Member since May 2013
797 posts
Posted on 10/28/18 at 11:24 am to
You can buy a rubber thing at Lowe’s that goes on the end of your hose that swells up when you turn the water on and it forces all the water in one direction. Works the same as the video but doesn’t require sheets. Or you can just snake it
Posted by hob
Member since Dec 2017
2280 posts
Posted on 10/28/18 at 11:33 am to
I'd think that corrugated pipe is too flexible to be effective. Rather than bust the clog the pipe will expand a bit.

Put a jet nozzle on the garden hose and hit it from the output side.
Posted by gumbo2176
Member since May 2018
17820 posts
Posted on 10/28/18 at 11:56 am to
quote:

Put a jet nozzle on the garden hose and hit it from the output side.


I've done this to mine in the past and it works well. Get one of those small straight stream only nozzles that are only about 2-3 inches long and not much bigger than the end of the hose.
Posted by RedStickBR
Member since Sep 2009
14577 posts
Posted on 10/28/18 at 12:45 pm to
For what it's worth, I just tried this out. It worked for the portion of pipe that connects the two drains. This section of pipe is straight. I was also able to snake the hose through much of this section, which I'm sure helped.

This method did not work for the portion of pipe that connects the second drain to the output side. This section of pipe has three 90-degree turns in it. I am hoping this pipe is not busted underground somewhere and that's the reason water isn't flowing out of the output side.

Calling a pro to come check it out.
Posted by RedStickBR
Member since Sep 2009
14577 posts
Posted on 10/28/18 at 12:45 pm to
What is this rubber thing called?
Posted by LSUEnvy
Hou via Lake Chas
Member since May 2011
12385 posts
Posted on 10/28/18 at 12:54 pm to
Here ya go—Bladder drain

LINK
Posted by RedStickBR
Member since Sep 2009
14577 posts
Posted on 10/28/18 at 1:00 pm to
Thanks. Good demo here as well. Honestly, I think my problem with the second section of pipe is that the clog I made with the sheets was not tight enough. This should solve it:

LINK
Posted by baldona
Florida
Member since Feb 2016
22364 posts
Posted on 10/28/18 at 1:05 pm to
Is there a reason you can’t just snake it? You can likely buy a top of the line snake for the price of a plumber doing it. Plumber doesn’t have any magic tricks they just have the right tools.
Posted by RedStickBR
Member since Sep 2009
14577 posts
Posted on 10/28/18 at 1:27 pm to
About to pick up a 3-6” bladder and may pick up a snake as well. Chances are this is going to happen again, so it will be money well spent if it works. There’s also the chance the prior owner of the home never cleared the drains at all. When I first opened the two drain basins, one was full almost to the very top with black muck.
This post was edited on 10/28/18 at 1:53 pm
Posted by mdomingue
Lafayette, LA
Member since Nov 2010
37488 posts
Posted on 10/28/18 at 1:34 pm to
Posted by RedStickBR
Member since Sep 2009
14577 posts
Posted on 10/28/18 at 1:56 pm to
About to use one similar to the first picture you posted, but 4-6” in diameter. I wish I could have found one with the two metal ends like the second one you posted, but Lowe’s didn’t have one like that and I don’t want to wait around for an online order to come in.

This has turned my back yard into a swamp and made life hell for the Mrs and our very fluffy dog.
This post was edited on 10/28/18 at 1:57 pm
Posted by weadjust
Member since Aug 2012
15480 posts
Posted on 10/28/18 at 6:07 pm to
My dad swears by this thing he hooks to his pressure washer. Google Clog Hog and Sewer Jetter.

I have rented a commercial type drain machine to clear built up dirt and cedar dropping in a 4" corrugated plastic french drain with no problems. If there are roots in there it's possible you could rip the pipe with a heavy duty drain snake machine but I was willing to take that risk
Posted by BadTiger
Member since Dec 2003
347 posts
Posted on 10/28/18 at 8:00 pm to
I have used the pressure washer mounted system. Works really well. Good to have on hand.
Posted by Devenbaker
Baton Rouge
Member since Aug 2007
294 posts
Posted on 10/28/18 at 8:10 pm to
Be careful using a snake. As someone else said, can grab a root and tear up some pipe. Happened to me. The backwash pressure washer attachment works well, and my dad has used the expanding bladder others have posted.
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