Advice on unblocking external drain

A

Adrian Hite

New Member
Hello all.

My external drain, underneath a downpipe, is blocked with rainwater. I believe the cause is cement washed down from when my patio was laid a year ago.

I have tried to scrape it away and dissolve it but nothing seems to work.

I have noticed what looks like a turntable plug, almost like a potential overflow, that could be openable, and this might release the water down a side drain. But I'm not sure if this is feasible and if so what tool could be used. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. I'm clearly a non plumber and scrambling around for direction. Photos attached. The potentially turntable plug device is seen through the grate.

Thanks in advance...

Adrian
 

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OP,
Typically, the down pipe discharges into a trapped gulley.
Can you stand back and photo a much larger context showing the whole elevation?
Is there a manhole cover nearby?
Why not lift & remove the grate, & reach down with a gloved hand and a small container and empty the water and any sludge - & then photo the dry'ish gulley?

The waste tissues trapped in the grate look like toilet paper - where did they come from?
 
Does your "turntable" have a hollow thread sticking out of the middle? Picture's not clear but it sounds like a pipe stopper which would be a temporary job.
 
Hi both, here is a better photo and yes it is actually a plug. It says remove for rodding. Is there a tool available to do this. It's quite tricky to get at so a specific tool would be ideal.

Thanks again.20231120_091914.jpg

Adrian
 
That should just be a friction fit with a rubber seal so it should just pop out with a flat blade screwdriver or a small flat prybar.
 
OP,
You have a trap with a rodding point.
Leave the rodding point plug alone until the trap is free of debris and sludge.
Thoroughly clean out the trap - debris can still be seen.
The plug looks like its an expanding plug with a screw head for adjusting expansion - the two ears are probably for twisting it out of any locked-in position, & breaking any seal.

After clearing the debris try a hose pipe down the trap - if no luck then remove the plug and you will have the choice of DIY rodding or jet hosing.
 
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