Outdoor Drain Repair

Tools:

brick
hammer
broom
putty
knife
square
shovel
round point shovel
narrow shovel (also known as a post shovel)
gloves

1. Dig up around drainpipe to gain access to the pipe (figure A). Spread a tarp out next to the work area and place soil on the tarp to make filling the trench back in easier. Also, move any pavers that are in the way.

2. Once the pipe is exposed, use a broom to sweep away any dirt so you have a good look at the pipe (figure B). Inspect the pipe for damage and repair any obvious breaks.

3. If the drain looks fine, use a water test to check for leaks. Run a garden hose to the end of the pipe nearest the house and turn the water on. Let the water run at full flow while you look for leaks. Let the water run for two or three hours.

4. If you still don't find any evidence of clogs or leaks, and the drain seems to be flowing fine, you may have flushed out the obstruction with the water test.

5. Fill in the trench and even it down. If you removed any pavers, you may want to leave them off for a while until you're sure the problem has cleared up.