The wind can carry leaves just about anywhere! Especially following the particularly blustery periods we saw last Autumn, such as Storm Barney.
This can be a busy time for us here at Happy Drains as many people across Essex are unaware of the problems that fallen leaves can cause for outdoor drains. One small blockage can cause water to back up and flood the surrounding area, or even back up your system inside your house…
If you haven’t already, now is a good time to retrieve those leaves before they cause any trouble. By following our advice, you will have peace of mind that your drains are protected, and you won’t be responsible for problems with your neighbours’ drains either!
Rake Up Fallen Leaves
It’s wise to try and keep on top of fallen leaves in the garden. By raking them up regularly, particularly after a windy day, you can prevent them from collecting together and ending up in your drains. If you’re a keen gardener, you could consider composting the leaves to use in the new year to feed your plants!
Clean Drain Pipes and Guttering
By setting aside some time each week to scoop leaves out of your drain pipes, you can avoid leaves building up and causing blockages. All you need is a ladder, a bucket and a scooping device, such as a trowel. Once you’re confident that you’ve removed all the leaves and debris, make sure the drains are working as they should.
Keep an eye on your drain covers
It’s wise to check your drain covers are in good condition and not covered by leaves. If an abundance of leaves gathers on top of your drains, pools of water will form in unwanted places, and this can cause flooding.
If you’re not keen on the idea of scooping up rotting leaves with your hands, a slightly less unpleasant option is to purchase some net covers for them. If emptied regularly, these are handy for gathering together the leaves and preventing them from falling into the drains.
Check your Storm Drain Grate
Storm Drain Grates are often over-looked as it’s not often that we anticipate the potential of a flood. At this time of year when, for many of us, it’s dark when you leave for work and dark when you return, it can be difficult to notice if the drain is becoming obstructed by a pile of leaves. Set aside some time to have a little delve in there and remove anything which could be blocking it.
Don’t fancy getting your hands dirty?
A handy investment for a leafy garden may be an outdoor vacuum cleaner. These are brilliant for clearing away debris and leaves and can be hired if you’d like to try it out before committing to purchasing one.
We have decades of experience clearing blocked drains across Essex and the surrounding area, so please contact us today if you need help unblocking your drains.
