Gutters overflow in rain
If the gutters are clean and still spill over, the downpipe or the line it feeds is not taking the water away.
STORMWATER PITS · DOWNPIPES · UNDERGROUND LINES
Blocked Stormwater Drains Caboolture
Caboolture gets its rain in heavy bursts, and a stormwater system that is half full of silt copes with a shower and fails in a storm. We clear pits, downpipes and underground lines, find any collapsed sections with the camera, and get water moving away from the house before the next downpour.
QBCCLicensed plumbersLocalKing St, CabooltureBookOnline bookingJetterSilt and root clearing
Cleared before the next stormBook online or call
On the tools
Signs your stormwater is blocked
Water pools around grates
A pit or surface drain that fills and stays full is blocked below the grate or further down the line.
Downpipes back up or bubble
Water rising back out of the base of a downpipe means the underground connection is blocked.
Wet ground against the house
Water that cannot get away ends up against the slab or under the house, which is where damage starts.
Gurgling from pits in a storm
Air trapped behind a blockage makes noise as water forces past it. Silt and leaves are the usual cause.
Erosion or a soggy lawn
A cracked stormwater line leaks into the ground around it and washes soil away below the surface.
What we clear and repair
Stormwater pits
Pits collect leaves, dirt and sludge. We empty them and clear the outlet so the underground line takes water again.
Downpipes
Blockages at the gutter outlet and at the underground connection are both common. We clear from the top and check the flow through to the outlet.
Blocked downpipesUnderground lines
Roots, silt and compacted leaves are cut and flushed with the jetter. The camera shows any crushed or separated section.
Repairs and re-grading
A collapsed or back-falling section is repaired or relaid so water runs to the discharge point instead of sitting in the pipe.
How a stormwater system works, and where it fails
Roof water runs from the gutters into downpipes, then into underground pipes that carry it to a kerb outlet, a soakage pit or the council system. Surface water from driveways and lawns enters through grated pits. Each part has to be clear for the whole system to work.
Most blockages we see are leaves and silt at the pits and downpipe outlets, roots in older lines, and lines that were never cleared of builder's debris on newer blocks. A pipe that has settled and now runs back towards the house holds water and silts up faster than one with proper fall.
The stormwater and sewer systems are separate. Stormwater must never be connected to the sewer, and a sewer problem is dealt with on its own page.
Stormwater lines block with silt over months and fail in the first big storm, so clearing them in the dry season is the cheapest time to do it.
What a stormwater clear includes
What a stormwater clear includes
Clearing the pit is only part of the job. The line has to carry water all the way to the outlet, so we confirm that before we leave.
- Pits emptied and outlets cleared
- Downpipes flushed from the top and checked at the base
- Underground line jetted through to the discharge point
- Camera inspection where a blockage keeps returning or a collapse is suspected
How it works
1
Call or book online
Tell us which drains are affected and whether water is coming up anywhere. That decides what goes on the van.
2
Find the cause
The plumber checks the fixtures, the overflow gully and the inspection openings, and runs the camera when the cause is not obvious.
3
Price before work
You get the price for the clear before we start. Relining or replacement is quoted separately if the camera shows damage.
4
Clear, test, explain
The line is cleared, checked with water running and, where damage was involved, inspected again with the camera. You are told what caused it.
Questions answered
Who is responsible for stormwater drains in Queensland?
The pipes, pits and downpipes on your property are the owner's responsibility. Council looks after the kerb, the street drains and the public system they discharge into. Unitywater handles sewerage and water supply, not stormwater.
Can I clear a stormwater pit myself?
Lifting the grate and scooping out leaves and silt is worth doing before every storm season. If the pit still fills and drains slowly after that, the blockage is in the underground line and needs a jetter.
Why does water come back up my downpipe?
The underground connection at the base of the downpipe is blocked, usually with leaves and silt that washed down over time. Clearing from the gutter end will not shift it; the line has to be jetted from below.
How often should stormwater be cleared?
On a block with mature trees, an annual clear before summer keeps the lines free. Newer estates with little tree cover often go years between clears, but the pits still need emptying.
Stormwater not draining in Caboolture?
Do not wait for the next storm to test it. Call 1300 568 203 or book online and we will clear the line and check the pits and downpipes with it.