Service: Blocked Drains
Location: Stirling, Canberra
A blocked drain beside a single-level, three-bedroom townhouse in Stirling had started causing concern for the homeowner.
The external grate sits close to the brick wall and paved area of the home. If water could no longer move away, it risked collecting around the side of the townhouse and spreading towards nearby surfaces.
Our team inspected the affected drainage, cleared the blockage and checked that water could flow away again.
The homeowner was left with a working drain and less risk of water backing up beside the home.
A Drain Too Close to the Home to Ignore
The affected drain is positioned beside the townhouse.
It sits within a paved area close to the brick wall, where backed-up water could quickly spread across the surface.
For the homeowner, the concern was not only the blockage itself. It was the thought of water collecting beside the home and moving towards the wall or nearby areas.
The problem needed attention before it became more disruptive.
Checking the Affected Drainage
Our team inspected the external drain and checked how water was moving through the area.
Because the townhouse sits within an established residential complex, it was important to understand where the drainage problem was occurring before carrying out the work.
The inspection confirmed that the affected drain needed to be cleared.
The detailed cause of the blockage was not recorded in the job information supplied for this case study, so it has not been included.
Clearing the Blockage
We completed the required work to clear the affected drain.
Once the blockage was removed, we checked that water could move away instead of collecting around the grate.
Restoring the drainage helped protect the paved area and the side of the townhouse from backed-up water.
Water Could Move Away Again
Our final checks confirmed that:
- the affected drain had been cleared
- water could move through the drainage again
- water was no longer building up around the grate
- the area beside the home could be used normally
The homeowner no longer had to watch the drain and wonder whether water would rise around it.
The townhouse was left with normal drainage restored beside the home.
What Could Have Happened if It Continued
The drain sits close to the paving and brick wall of the townhouse.
If the blockage had continued, water could have risen around the grate and spread across the paved area.
From there, it may have moved towards the wall or nearby parts of the home. Ongoing water around the townhouse could have caused damp areas, stained surfaces or damage to nearby finishes.
Clearing the blockage helped protect the home before the problem became larger and more expensive for the homeowner.
Is a Drain Around Your Home Becoming Blocked?
Signs a drain may need attention include:
- water draining slowly
- water collecting around a grate
- gurgling sounds
- unpleasant smells
- water rising through another drain
- wet areas that take too long to clear
- the same drain blocking more than once
Learn more about our blocked drain services, or contact us to arrange an inspection.
