Underground Gutter Drain Pipe

A downpipe drain is the underground pipe that runs water from gutters away from a building and usually lets out at the curb.

Underground gutter drain pipe.

Over time leaves dirt and other debris can clog up the pipe. This pipe is perforated and the idea behind the design was that water would flow through the perforations and be absorbed by the soil. Some houses use downspouts that direct the flow of water downhill or down a slanted driveway. Debris flowing down the downspout drain leaves from gutters can block floor drains or even the main building sewer line leading to sewage backups into the structure.

Although you can t see into these drains cleaning them is similar to a process used to clear debris from the side gutter pipes on your house. A gutter s purpose is to move water from a roof to the desired location but usually this is right by the foundation of a home. Something that can be very damaging to the foundation of a home is exterior water. Others have vertical pipes that either connect to a drain or run directly into the ground itself.

A rain gutter drain pipe is usually installed to carry water away from your house. If your downpipe isn t draining or water is flowing out the back then it s probably clogged. Another local homeowner had underground extensions installed using the kind of corrugated plastic pipe that is normally used for interior drain tile. A potential hidden problem there are different ways that you can channel the water in your gutters away from your home.

Many of these pipes are placed underground to avoid the eyesore of pipes laying on the ground next to your house. Debris flowing down a downspout drain that has been foolishly connected to the building foundation drain system can block that drain leading to basement flooding from either roof runoff or surface and subsurface runoff or both.