Autumn and winter are the busiest times for blocked and overflowing drains. Falling leaves, heavy rain and the occasional freeze all put pressure on gutters, gullies and underground drains. An hour of checks in October can save a messy call-out in December.
Gutters and downpipes
- Clear leaves and moss from gutters, especially if you have trees nearby, as many homes in the New Forest, Winchester and leafy parts of Southampton do.
- Check downpipes are not blocked. Water spilling over the gutter in rain is a sign.
- Make sure downpipes discharge properly into a gully or drain connector, not onto paving next to the house.
Gullies and channel drains
- Clean out leaves and silt from gullies, particularly those under downpipes. See how to clean an outside drain gully.
- Fit leaf guards on gullies.
- Clear channel drains across driveways and patios. See why is water pooling on my driveway?
Inspection chambers
- Lift the covers, where safe, and check that water is flowing freely along the channel at the bottom.
- Standing water or debris means a partial blockage that is best cleared before winter rain arrives.
- Check covers are secure and not cracked.
Inside the house
- Notice slow drains now. Slow sinks, baths and showers in autumn tend to get worse.
- Keep grease out of the sink, especially in the run-up to Christmas. See what to do with cooking fat after Christmas dinner.
Outside taps and exposed pipes
Insulate exposed pipes and turn off and drain outside taps before frosts. Some boilers have a plastic condensate pipe running outside to a drain, which can freeze in very cold weather. If your boiler stops in a freeze, check the boiler manufacturer’s guidance.
Properties with trees
If the drains have blocked before, or there are large trees close to the drain run, autumn is a good time for a clean and camera check. See tree roots in drains.
Businesses and landlords
Car parks, yards and commercial premises collect leaves and silt in gullies quickly. Planned cleaning before winter reduces flooding and emergency call-outs. See drain maintenance.
If your drains are already slow, see drain cleaning or why does my drain overflow when it rains?