Gullies are some of the essential parts of the wastewater drainage system. The pipe helps to discharge stormwater from your gardens to the main drainage pipe, and also it’s used to drain grey wastewater from guttering, dishwasher, sinks and washing machine.
After when fitting rainwater gullies, the most important thing is maintenance. To maintain blocked stormwater gullies, you can unblock them by yourself. However, you need to have the right tools and tips on how to do it right.
Tools Needed To Clean Rainwater Gullies
Having the right tools will enable you to work as a professional and ensure your safety. To do this you will need a garden brush, rubber gloves, protective glasses, hosepipe, flathead screwdriver, trowel, bucket and hot water.
Preparing Yourself To Clean A Rainwater Gully
First, you need to have your eyes and hands protected from bacteria and all kinds of muck. So start by wearing protective glasses and gloves. You must also ensure that no one is using the bathroom or equipment that drains wastewater into the gully. Then, locate your gully trap. It is a lid that traps debris and also keeps rodents away. You should also clear the area around the gully to remove any water obstructions.
Removing a gully cover
With the trap cleaned and the area around the gully cleared, you need to remove the gully drain cover or the lid. The lid removal should give you access to the inside of the water gully.
Check inside the gully
The removal of the gully cover gives access to the inside of the gully. So, you can now check inside the gully for any blockages.
So use a trowel to remove any visible blockages in the pipe. You can also use your hands to clear the blockages. After you gave cleared the clogs in the gully, water should start flowing smoothly. Open taps or pour in the gully to see there is slow water drainage. If water is flowing smoothly, the cleaning job is successful. But if there is a slow drain, you have got to a few more steps to take.
Using a drain rod to clean a gully
Drain rods can do more than what a trowel or the hand can do. The travel a long distance in the gully and remove tough blockages. These rods are usually a meter long, and you can screw a number of them together if you the clog in far inside the pipe. When inserted in the water gullies, they will clear any blockages they come across.
Once you encounter a blockage, prod it with the rod to break it down into smaller pieces. The idea is to have the clog broken down into small pieces that can flush down the drain. However, you must keep in mind that rotating the clog anticlockwise could unscrew the pipe.
Flush gully with a hose
With the clog seemingly broken into manageable pieces that can flush down the drain, you can start flushing water. You should also sweep off the debris around the water gully so that they do not fall into the pipe. After gully hosing for a few minutes, the blockages should be drained.
Flush gully with hot water
Gully hosing may not clear all the blockages in the pipe because of grey wastewater. Some of the clogs with grease matter needs hot water to dislodge.
When you flush hot water, it melts the grease clogs hence dislodging them off the pipe. So, fill a bucket with hot water and pour it into the gully carefully. You can also add some bleach to help dislodge stubborn blockages.
Test the gully before resealing
Before you seal the water gully, test it again for the slow drain. Running the tabs for a few minutes will tell whether the gully is free of clogs or not. If everything is okay, replace the gully trap and screw it.
Blocked gully prevention tips
Here are prevention steps you should take: Always clean areas around the gully before the rains start; Regular inspection of your gully; Avoid flushing too much toilet paper; Use natural solutions to treat your gully; Pour boiling water down the drain at least once a month; Avoid draining coffee grounds.
Water gullies are an essential part of our wastewater management system. They prevent flooding in our homes by collection surface and gutter water. They can also help to drain grey wastewater. Proper maintenance is vital before the rains start and if you notice signs of a slow drain. With these maintenance tips, you will be able to remove all blockages by yourself. But if the blockage appears stubborn, call Tank and Drain Services, a qualified and professional company. We always provide an exceptional service. Our technicians are fully trained to find the best solution for your issues.