Sewer lines are always outside of the home and underground. These networks of pipes carry wastewater and solid waste to municipal treatment centers. All of the drains in your home lead to the sewer main, and all sewer mains lead to water treatment facilities.
Catch Basins
A catch basin drainage system, also known simply as a “yard drain,” is a key component of many modern stormwater management systems. These basins are designed to collect and manage rainwater runoff efficiently.
The two most common drain pipes that most people have on the side of their house are: Air conditioner condensate lines (AC drain line). Water heater pressure relief valve lines (PRV drain line).
The French Drain
The perforations allow water to easily enter — or, weep — into the drain pipe where it can flow away from the house while the porous backfill creates a direct pathway for water to reach the pipe. The french drain is the most commonly used drain pipe used to provide drainage around foundations.
If it's in your yard, that's your main sewer line. Typically the only reason it would be opened and cleaned out is if you're having issues in your own house with multiple backed up drains caused by a blockage between your house's pipes and the main line. That is really strange the cap was off...
One of the main reasons why there are drains in your backyard is because of storm water management. Driveways and rooftops are impervious surfaces that prevent water from penetrating into the soil during heavy rainfall.
Boiling water is the easiest way to clean up your clogged outside drain. Just put on a kettle full of tap water and boil it up. Now, slowly pour the hot, boiling water down the drain. This will wash and melt away any stubborn blockages.
A trench drain is a device designed to intercept and collect surface water over a long expanse. It is literally a trench with a grate on top. Trench drains are usually employed across a paved area to drain and direct water away from these surfaces.
A grassed swale is a graded and engineered landscape feature appearing as a linear, shallow, open channel with trapezoidal or parabolic shape. The swale is vegetated with flood tolerant, erosion resistant plants.
In many cities, rain flows into storm sewers, beginning an underground journey, down the drain and to the stream. So, be careful, since anything you put in your yard, street or storm drain will flow directly to a river or lake in your community.
An exterior drainage pipe is a perforated pipe that runs along your home's foundation. It collects groundwater and directs it away from your home, preventing damage. Here's why it's beneficial: Protects Foundation: Keeps water from pooling around your home's foundation, which can lead to mold and structural damage.
In most situations, this is a very easy find, as all you need to do is inspect the outside of your property for a drain cover. If you easily find the drain cover, this is the main drain that connects all of the wastewater from your home to the public drainage system.
To unclog an AC drain line, turn off the power to the unit. Locate the drain line and use a wet/dry vacuum to suck out the clog. Flush the line with water using a garden hose or cup of water. Check and clean the drain pan under the indoor unit.
An exterior drainpipe collects groundwater and directs it away from the foundation before it can cause any damage. It has perforations that allow water to drain in and out of the pipe. The pipe is usually buried in trenches all around the home's perimeter at the base of the foundation footing.
Catchpit/Cesspit (Public) Stormwater device composed of a grate, small chamber and sediment trap. May be private or public and are usually associated with drainage off road or driveways. Varieties include supa pits, mega pits or splay pits.
Add a cup of bicarb followed by a cup of vinegar, it should begin to fizz and bubble up. Replace the drain cover and repeat every couple of hours until the blockage is cleared. Remember, this is a basic solution and it won't work on serious blockages.
Swale drains use the natural slope of your yard to divert the drainage of excess water into the soil. On the other hand, French drains use a sloped trench consisting of pipe and gravel to carry excess water away from your home and toward a suitable drainage location.
Trench drains may also be called channel drains and are an above-ground drainage solution. Its materials are embedded in the ground within a long, narrow trench. It has a grated covering that may look like guttering.
You can fill the spaces with gravel or plant grass or other ground cover.
Yard drains are also called catch basins. As that name implies, the purpose of this drain is to 'catch' excess surface water in a basin and redirect it. The catch basin acts like a sewer drain and directs the water through a pipe sloping away from the basin.
Some of the most common outdoor drains include French drains, dry wells, catch basins, and trench drains.
Swale drains are broad, shallow ditches that can be lined with grass, vegetation, or rocks. It's a more natural way to help drain yards to prevent flooding, puddling, and erosion. They can also be a great addition to your landscape by looking like a dry stream bed. You can see what swales can look like further down!
But who should you call for a blocked drain that you can't remedy yourself? For internal blockages, a plumber will be able to assist, but for blockages in external drains, it's usually a job for a specialist drain clearance company.
Baking soda, vinegar and boiling water can help clean drains naturally, but you may need something stronger, like Liquid-Plumr ®, to fully unclog those really tough drain clogs.
If you are connected to a septic tank, and you have a blockage in the drain between the house and your septic tank, your toilet paper will overflow through one of your external gully traps.