Drain Unblocking
Drain Cleaning
CCTV Drain Survey
Drain Repairs
Toilet Unblocking
What to Do When It Rains Hard
Heavy rain isn’t rare in Plymouth. But when your garden starts flooding, or your driveway turns into a pond, it’s more than a weather problem, it’s a drainage one.
At Drainblock Services, we help homeowners from Yelverton to Mannamead deal with stormwater before it becomes a disaster. If your garden drain overflows, or your patio puddles every time it rains, here’s what’s really going on—and how to fix it for good.
Why Storm Drains Struggle in Plymouth
Storm drains are designed to carry away rainwater from your property and surrounding surfaces. But in areas like Plymstock or Mannamead where clay soils, tree cover, and older pipe systems are common, those drains often get overwhelmed.
– Autumn leaves block grates and soakaways
– Silt builds up in patio drains
– Kitchen waste sometimes ends up in outdoor pipes
– Tree roots crack underground channels
– DIY paving jobs create poor water flow
Signs Your Storm Drain Is in Trouble
01
Garden or driveway floods during light rain
02
Standing water near gully covers
03
Drain smells after wet weather
04
Overflowing patio drains or soakaways
05
Soggy patches near fencing or flowerbeds
DIY Steps You Can Try First
1. Clear the grate – Remove any leaves, mud, or debris from the drain cover.
2. Flush with a hose – Blast water down the gully to shift silt or blockages.
3. Enzyme drain cleaner – Use a biological treatment to break down organic matter.
4. Lift the cover and check for roots – If you can see root growth, stop and call us.
Why Soakaways Fail
A soakaway is a buried pit filled with gravel or crates that lets water drain slowly into the soil. But in clay-heavy areas like Yelverton and parts of Plymstock, these soakaways clog fast. Once full of silt, they stop draining altogether—and water has nowhere to go.
We often find soakaways that haven’t been flushed or cleared in over a decade. That’s when we bring in jetting equipment to clear the line and, in some cases, restore the pit itself.
Do You Need a New Soakaway or Just a Clean-Out?
If the water clears slowly but eventually disappears, your soakaway might still be salvageable. We’ll jet it, inspect it with a CCTV camera, and let you know. If the chamber is collapsed or completely clogged, we’ll recommend a rebuild—with clear pricing and options.
Tree Roots Are a Common Culprit
Homes with large gardens or tree-lined borders often suffer from root intrusion. Roots sneak into tiny pipe cracks and expand, causing blockages, misalignment, or total collapse. In Mannamead and parts of Yelverton, this accounts for over half the storm drain issues we fix.
What We Use to Fix Storm Drain Problems
– High-pressure jetting
– Root cutting equipment
– CCTV inspection cameras
– Soakaway restoration tools
– Environmentally safe drainage treatments
We don’t just unblock—we solve. If needed, we’ll quote for future-proofing your garden drainage layout to avoid repeat flooding.
Real Case: Flooded Patio in Plymstock
One customer called after their paved patio began flooding every time it rained. We inspected the system and found a soakaway filled with clay and leaves—and a gully pipe blocked with moss. We jetted the system, cleaned the grates, and flushed the pit. The patio’s stayed dry ever since.
Preventing Storm Drain Flooding Year Round
– Sweep leaves from patios weekly in autumn
– Avoid pouring fats or oils in kitchen drains that connect outdoors
– Install gully guards or mesh screens over drains
– Book a yearly drain inspection, especially before winter
– Ask about soakaway flushing if your system is over 10 years old
Service Areas for Outdoor Drainage Support
We regularly help homeowners in:
– Plymouth (PL1–PL9)
– Plymstock, Yelverton, Mannamead, Southway – Tavistock, Saltash, Ivybridge, Efford
When to Call for Help
Don’t wait until water reaches your back door. If it’s pooling, smelling, or backing up, we can diagnose the issue and fix it fast. No pressure, no jargon, no mess.
Call Roman and the team today for garden drain inspections, soakaway help, or storm drain unblocking in Plymouth and beyond.
Call the team today
Drain Unblocking