Cloggeed drain pipe

[chip_laugal]

I have a 4 inch plastic corrigated drain pipe about 150 feet long that drains my curtain drain, sump pump and gutters. It is clogged somewhere I think with leaves from the gutter or something else. The problem is how do I get it un clogged. I have a clean out at the top and it is open at the bottom. If I trench a new line I feel it will clogg again. Anyone have a solution.
Chip

 

[MrJimi]

Get some garden hose and screw some together and push it in the pipe, should work great unless you have some sharp bends

Aw-Shucks, I dint read the corrugated part? Grr
Jim

 

[450EXC]

That black corrigated pipe is thin and not really the best. You could cut into the side with a snake. There is probably a 90* elbow at the base of your cleanout, might be easier working from the end of the line. You should be able to rent a drain cleaning machine, might work. You could buy a water bag - threads onto garden hose and builds up pressure in pipe to clear leaves, might not work because of perforated pipe, about $ 15-20. You could hire a contractor, $ 100 - 200, watch out for con artist.

If you just want to have fun with it - duct tape a bunch of old 1" pvc to your PTO, engage, and back er in. Just kidding.

 

[randy41]

If you just want to have fun with it - duct tape a bunch of old 1" pvc to your PTO, engage, and back er in. Just kidding.

if you choose this option let us know so we can watch.

i would try water pressure. i would also try anything before calling a 'professional'.

 

[dknarnd]

I would try one of the "water bags" mentioned above, it just may work. If you use it make sure it is past the cleanout before you turn the water on. Another option may be a snake used for pulling wires because it will be less evasive on the pipe but I don't know how long they come.

 

[Birdhunter1]

Once you get this line cleaned out I'd consider running a dedicated SCH 40 PVC line for your sump pump, that way you know that one will be clear. I my house if my sump pump line stopped up I'd be in a world of hurt pretty quick!

Leaf blowers work well for clearing those pipes too, if it's leaves air will probably work better than water. If you can unattach everything else from the line and then hook a leaf blower into your line (duct tape works well to seal it) it will blow a mess out the other end.

 

[RonMar]

Leaf blowers work well for clearing those pipes too, if it's leaves air will probably work better than water. If you can unattach everything else from the line and then hook a leaf blower into your line (duct tape works well to seal it) it will blow a mess out the other end.

I would think that the leaf blower method only works when the leaves are dry or nearly so. Leaf blowers are not high pressure, just high velocity. They must have airflow thru their compressor wheel to develop any pressure. If it is a wet clog of leaves, it will stall the airflow thru the blower(same as a jet engine compressor stall). The engine RPM increases as the compressor wheel stalls, but pressure on the outlet actually drops. I use them to backflow downspouts and clean out gutters, but it only works when the downspout is dry. You can clean gutters wet with the high velocity flow, but boy is it messy I would also recomend the hose end water bag. I have a few different sizes and they work great. Once they expand and seal and build pressure in the pipe, they "chatter" and these pulses work like a water hammer to loosen clogs. Only drawback is that it must be a complete or nearly complete clog as the flow thru the bag end is small, and the pipe must be able to withstand your water system pressure or it might rupture. When you get it cleaned out, may I suggest a screen at the upper end to catch the larger debris before it enters the pipe. They make ones that slide down into a 4" PVC pipe "T" on the outlet of a septic tank to keep debris from the tank, that has been stirred up by too much water flowing thru it, from entering and clogging the drainfield plumbing.

Good Luck

 

[CTyler]

I have a 4 inch plastic corrigated drain pipe about 150 feet long that drains my curtain drain, sump pump and gutters. It is clogged somewhere I think with leaves from the gutter or something else. The problem is how do I get it un clogged. I have a clean out at the top and it is open at the bottom. If I trench a new line I feel it will clogg again. Anyone have a solution.
Chip

Since I have a power snake I would use that. Mine has 5 or 6 heads you can put on. A couple of them may tear up the pipe if pushed but there are a couple that would not as well. Depending on what type of clog you have you may or may not clear it.

Did it collapse from driving over it? or a tree root etc.. You said you don't know. So...If you can't clear it with the snake then leave the snake in the pipe at the blockage. Then use/borrow a metal detector and find out where it stopped and mark that spot. Pull the snake back out and dig up just that one spot.

Alternative to the metal detector....Run the snake to the blockage and wrap some tape on it. Pull it back out and either measure or lay the snake along the ground so you can mark the blockage point. Don't forget to subtract your drop or you'll be digging a couple feet past where you want to be.


Also...if you find out its leaves clogging the line from your gutters then install a gutter sceen, gutter guard, etc... to prevent the leaves from getting in there in the first place.

 

[DWW68]

Chip,
You may want to check with local rental places and see if they have a Jetter. This is nothing more than a glorified pressure washer with different tips that you can put on the end of the hose and feed up streem to clear the plug. The tips that you put on the end of the hose have small holes facing back that the presser comes out of to pull the hose up the pipe. This methode will not damage the corrigated pipe. This will work if your plug is from sludge or leaves. If there is something solid in there it will most likely not clear it.
Good luck,
Dan