Cleaning out a clogged trench drain

[fstime]

How would you go about cleaning a driveway trench train in front of a garage?

The driveway is on a step slope downward. Only recently has flooding in the garage been an issue (twice in 3.5 months) but other than that it has worked for 4+ years to prevent water from entering.

This makes me to assume it is clogged and needs some kind of maintenance.

Is this a job for a regular plumber or someone more specialized?

Here is the type of drain I am referring to:

It is one of those driveway to basement garage kind of deals sort of like this:

 

[BoomerD]

Do you know where it leads to?

If those grates aren't removable...you're gonna have some problems.

Is there some kind of clean-out for that?

 

[Greenman]

Pull off the cover, remove debris. At one or two locations you will find a hole in the bottom, turn on your garden hose, and stuff it in the hole. Keep stuffing it down the hole until the water runs freely down the pipe.

 

[fstime]

The grates are removable but I am not sure where it leads to which is a good question because you are well bellow the street line at that point.

Pull off the cover, remove debris. At one or two locations you will find a hole in the bottom, turn on your garden hose, and stuff it in the hole. Keep stuffing it down the hole until the water runs freely down the pipe.

I will try this but my question is, if it drains downwards and not sideways like this:

, where does it eventually lead to?

It is dark out now but I will look at it more closely tomorrow morning.

Thanks

 

[fstime]

Ok well, the drain leads to a 2x2 storm drain 5-6 feet in front of the trench drain

I put a garden hose in the trench drains outlet pipe and the water gushed out inside the storm drain no problem so the connecting pipe does not seem to be clogged.

There was water entering the house again. Sticking a long metal rod into the storm drain indicated there was about 1 foot of sand that could be cleaned out at the deepest part and about 4-5 inches elsewhere. It is about 4 feet deep overall and around 3x3 inside (beneath the 2x2 grate) and lined all around with cement blocks.

So I don't get it, I don't think removing some building at the bottom is the core issue here. Granted every time it has failed, flash floods were declared and rain was dropping at 1-2 inches per hour, not some little sprinkle but for it to occur 3 times in 3 months means something is giving.

 

[SpatiallyAware]

Some advice....... If you have a home in a situation where water is directed towards your foundation there is no good solution other than diverting the water. I have seen and dealt with this numerous times.. I've done french/gravel drains, custom "pro" solutions with plastic sheathing on the inside and outside, etc etc etc on different properties and situations and none of it was a permanent fix.

I suggest adding dirt and grading away a path for the water. I've discovered this is cheaper and easier than dealing with the french drains anyway.

It would really help to have some pics of your actual home.

 

[fstime]

I sort of get what you are saying but have no idea how to implement such an idea. Here is a decent picture I could find of the setting:

You can see its a pretty steep slope and well bellow the street. Like I said, there was never an issue in the past 4 years unti the recent 3 flash floods we had.

 

[Pens1566]

You need to limit the amount of area that runs into that drain. If the street is draining into there as well, you're doomed to repeat this over and over.

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

At the top of the drive at the street end, is there a storm water drain? Does the drive properly dip down to street level? Finally, the drain in front of the garage is a standard maintenance issue and should be cleaned whenever you clean the eave gutters.

 

[fstime]

There is no storm drain on the street in front of the house. The dip is a steady slope downward, I am not sure of the exact angle but it may be around 20 degrees.

I will clean it out, like I said, there is about .5-1.2 feet of sand depending on where you check at the bottom but that seems like such a small thing to cause all of this. There is nothing to clean around the sides since it is lined with blocks all around inside.

One thing I was thinking of trying was to create a new 1-2 inch "lip" at the front of the driveway where it meets the street to minimize water entering the driveway from the street. There is one there now but it is old and more rounded off from wear and tear than what would be ideal.

Maybe the best idea is just to completely fill the driveway, due away with the garage, and bring it to street level. That sounds like it would cost a ton of money though....

 

[SS Trooper]

Ok well, the drain leads to a 2x2 storm drain 5-6 feet in front of the trench drain

I put a garden hose in the trench drains outlet pipe and the water gushed out inside the storm drain no problem so the connecting pipe does not seem to be clogged.

There was water entering the house again. Sticking a long metal rod into the storm drain indicated there was about 1 foot of sand that could be cleaned out at the deepest part and about 4-5 inches elsewhere. It is about 4 feet deep overall and around 3x3 inside (beneath the 2x2 grate) and lined all around with cement blocks.

So I don't get it, I don't think removing some building at the bottom is the core issue here. Granted every time it has failed, flash floods were declared and rain was dropping at 1-2 inches per hour, not some little sprinkle but for it to occur 3 times in 3 months means something is giving.

So you are saying the storm drain this empties into is a well? I would expect this drain should move the water to the main water lines in the street. If I'm understanding this right and your driveway pours out into a well then you have a relatively small limit of water that can be handled by the system. You have verified the french drain is working, so that storm drain should be the problem.

Go take some pictures of the whole set up to clarify. There a lot of very smart people on this board who can help if you give the right information. (I learned a lot from them)

 

[BUTCH1]

How about a sump solution to deal with that, power that shit outta there..

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

There is no storm drain on the street in front of the house. The drip is a steady slope downward, I am not sure of the exact angle but it may be around 20 degrees.

I will clean it out, like I said, there is about .5-1.2 feet of sand depending on where you check at the bottom but that seems like such a small thing to cause all of this. There is nothing to clean around the sides since it is lined with blocks all around inside.

I'm sorry, that's just a recipe for disaster. The drain in front of the garage is just for overflow and the water that collects on the drive between the street and the house. It is NOT intended as the primary method of keeping water out of the house. You can't do much other than request a storm drain from the city. However, you do need to have the proper termination of your drive at the street end done. The cost of doing this is considerably less than the cost of repairing water damage in the future. You may even be able to save on your insurance after the work is done.

 

[fstime]

So you are saying the storm drain this empties into is a well? I would expect this drain should move the water to the main water lines in the street. If I'm understanding this right and your driveway pours out into a well then you have a relatively small limit of water that can be handled by the system. You have verified the french drain is working, so that storm drain should be the problem.

Go take some pictures of the whole set up to clarify. There a lot of very smart people on this board who can help if you give the right information. (I learned a lot from them)

My city does not allow tying in storm drains with the sewer system.

You are correct though that the "well" has a limited capacity other than draining into the ground naturally.

 

[fstime]

I'm sorry, that's just a recipe for disaster. The drain in front of the garage is just for overflow and the water that collects on the drive between the street and the house. It is NOT intended as the primary method of keeping water out of the house. You can't do much other than request a storm drain from the city. However, you do need to have the proper termination of your drive at the street end done. The cost of doing this is considerably less than the cost of repairing water damage in the future. You may even be able to save on your insurance after the work is done.

By termination you mean the "lip" commonly seen at the end of driveways prevent streetwater from entering correct? For some reason, I don't think requesting a storm drain from the city will be all that easy.

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

This is what I'm talking about.

 

[fstime]

It looks to me that there is a curve there and I could see how that could help but the driveway is fairly short and steep leaving not much room for implementing such a thing

I was referring to something like this

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

It looks to me that there is a curve there and I could see how that could help but the driveway is fairly short and steep leaving not much room for implementing such a thing

I was referring to something like this

That works too. The important part is that the rise before the slope to the garage be at least as high as the curb.

 

[SS Trooper]

My city does not allow tying in storm drains with the sewer system.

You are correct though that the "well" has a limited capacity other than draining into the ground naturally.

That's lame. My town has seperate water lines from waste lines. The cheapest option may be expanding your "well"

The french drain I have installed in my back yard gathers water from around the house's foundation and takes it to the middle of my backyard. Where I dug a 4-5ft deep hole about 3 ft in diameter. Then I filled this with stone. I used the existing grass mat to resod the area. (This was important so soil did not fall into the rocks and create a sink hole type situation)

 

[fstime]

This is what I was thinking as well but what if it is only a temporary solution like another poster mentioned. Is there a 100% certain way to fix this other than filling in the entire driveway. I am not sure on the cost of this but I imagine is is probably high.

 

[mizzou]

After owning a home, I know now to never buy one with poor grading already in place or with trees near utility lines

 

[SS Trooper]

After owning a home, I know now to never buy one with poor grading already in place or with trees near utility lines

I am currently learning trees in the front yard are also a big mistake. I just had to use an industrial snake to clear out roots since this summer was dry. Trees being the smart devious creatures they are will invade waste lines during droughts.

 

[Pens1566]

There is no storm drain on the street in front of the house. The dip is a steady slope downward, I am not sure of the exact angle but it may be around 20 degrees.

I will clean it out, like I said, there is about .5-1.2 feet of sand depending on where you check at the bottom but that seems like such a small thing to cause all of this. There is nothing to clean around the sides since it is lined with blocks all around inside.

One thing I was thinking of trying was to create a new 1-2 inch "lip" at the front of the driveway where it meets the street to minimize water entering the driveway from the street. There is one there now but it is old and more rounded off from wear and tear than what would be ideal.

Maybe the best idea is just to completely fill the driveway, due away with the garage, and bring it to street level. That sounds like it would cost a ton of money though....

Anything more than a ~1% grade is enough for it to drain that way.

 

[SpatiallyAware]

I sort of get what you are saying but have no idea how to implement such an idea. Here is a decent picture I could find of the setting:

You can see its a pretty steep slope and well bellow the street. Like I said, there was never an issue in the past 4 years unti the recent 3 flash floods we had.

Are you positive that the water is coming in via the driveway?

That is a terrible picture but based on that alone, it looks like your front yard directs water right into the foundation to the right of your driveway.

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

Are you positive that the water is coming in via the driveway?

That is a terrible picture but based on that alone, it looks like your front yard directs water right into the foundation to the LEFT of your driveway.

FTFY

There also may be an issue with water flowing down those stairs.