Yard Drainage Maintenance Guide

Begin by checking the drain for visible obstructions such as leaves, dirt, stones, toys, or trash. Carefully remove any debris using your hands or a scoop, taking care not to damage the drain components. If the drain has a grate, gently remove it to get a clearer view inside the pipe—be cautious to avoid breaking or bending the grate during removal. Use a flashlight if visibility is limited to inspect the drain thoroughly.

Sometimes, larger debris can partially block the pipe, and spotting it early may help prevent more serious blockages. If additional debris is visible, carefully extract it without damaging the pipe. Once visible debris is cleared, flush the drain with a garden hose to dislodge any smaller obstructions that may remain.

If flushing with water doesn’t resolve the issue, use a plumber’s snake to clear stubborn clogs deeper in the drain. For persistent blockages or complex problems, consider consulting a drainage professional to ensure the system is properly cleared and functioning.

Your property likely has one or more drain cleanouts, typically located near the house, along the street close to the storm sewer, or elsewhere in your yard, depending on your drainage system’s layout. These cleanouts provide access points for inspecting and clearing clogs in your drainage pipes.

If you’re unsure where your cleanouts are located, California Foundation Works can assist in identifying them. To check for blockages, run water from a garden hose through your yard drain and observe whether water flows freely through the cleanout toward the storm sewer or designated drainage area. A lack of water flow may indicate a significant clog caused by dirt, debris, or even invasive tree roots.

If tree roots are a concern, or if you suspect a stubborn buildup of dirt and debris, clearing the blockage may require more advanced tools, such as a hydro-jet or a drain snake. These tools can effectively break apart obstructions and flush them out, restoring proper drainage. For persistent issues, consult a professional to assess the condition of your pipes, as broken or damaged pipes may require repair or replacement.

Please don’t. Using chemicals in your yard drainage can do more harm than good.

We strongly advise against using chemicals to clear clogs in your yard or driveway drains. These drains often lead directly to waterways through the storm sewer system, bypassing treatment at a sewage facility. Introducing chemicals can harm the environment, contaminate local water sources, and potentially damage your drainage pipes.  Instead, use safer, eco-friendly methods such as flushing with water, using a drain snake, or employing hydro-jetting to resolve blockages effectively. 

Unfortunately, sometimes the drainage pipes can get bent, broken, punctured or damaged in any other way that can make cause disfunction to its purpose.

As a homeowner, you should fix or replace broken yard drain grates and pipes that might have been damaged. You should consider finer screen or grate to keep more of the dirt and debris out, but not too fine that will restrict the flow of water or easily get clogged up.

If water continues to drain slowly even after a thorough cleaning, you may need to consider installing a larger yard drain to handle higher water flow. While this can be a more costly solution, it may be necessary to prevent standing water in your yard and avoid potential water damage to your property.

In addition to upgrading your drainage system, it’s important to locate all drain cleanouts on your property and create a detailed drainage map. Hand-sketch or document the locations of drains, cleanouts, and underground pipes for future reference. This map can save time and effort during inspections, cleanings, and repairs.

For added preparation, keep a log of maintenance activities, including cleaning dates and any issues discovered, to monitor the long-term health of your system. If persistent drainage issues arise, call us for a FREE  professional inspection to assess the system’s capacity and recommend the most effective upgrades or repairs.