If your home is located in an area with an abundance of trees and a higher probability of experiencing severe weather, then it’s likely that your home has a storm water drain. These drains are often disguised behind landscaping such as a deck or patio or are hidden in the ground near the foundation. If a storm water drain backs up and floods your home, it can be devastating. However, with the right tools and expertise, you can repair your storm water drain and prevent this from happening again in the future. Before you begin repairing your storm water drain, check the installation diagram and review the materials that are listed below. This way, you’ll know exactly what you need for the repair and avoid any mistakes that could end up costing you time and money. Here is a quick guide on how to repair a storm water drain yourself:

Check the Installation Location

Your storm water drain may have been installed in a hidden location, which means you may not know where it is. Depending on where your home is located, there may be different types of drains or multiple drains in one general location. Once you know where your storm water drain is, you can move on to the next step. Having this information will make the rest of the project go much more smoothly.

Repairing and Rebuilding a Pipe Section

If your storm water drain is fully installed, you may only need to repair a small section of it. If your pipe is in good condition, you can repair just the affected section with a pipe patch. Use a pipe patch that is similar in size to the pipe that has been damaged so that you don’t create an unequal seam in your pipe. If your pipe is in bad condition and a patch isn’t an option, you may need to rebuild the entire section. To rebuild the section, clean out any debris and dirt from the pipe, and then glue new PVC to the inside of the pipe. Once the glue has dried, you can put the section back into the ground.

Repairing and Rebuilding a Manhole Cover

If your storm water drain has a manhole cover, repairing it may not be necessary. However, if the cover is damaged beyond repair, you will need to repair the manhole. If your manhole cover is in good condition, you can repair it by first cleaning out any debris from the hole. Once the hole is clean, you can repair the manhole cover by gluing new PVC to the inside of the cover. Once the glue has dried, you can replace the manhole cover in the ground.

Repairing and Rebuilding a Manhole Box

If your storm water drain has a manhole box, repairing it may be necessary. If the box is in good condition and you’re able to repair the pipe without a patch, you can repair the box by cleaning out any debris that has collected inside the box. Once the debris has been cleared, you can repair the box by gluing new PVC into the inside of the box. Once the glue has dried, you can replace the manhole box in the ground.

Summary

Repairing your storm water drain can prevent you and your family from experiencing flood damage. However, you should only repair your storm water drain if the pipe is in good condition. If the pipe is in bad condition, it may be more cost-effective to replace the entire pipe. If your storm water drain is fully installed, you can repair a small section of it, an individual pipe section or a manhole cover with ease. If your storm water drain needs to be completely replaced, you can contact a contractor to assist with this project. With the right tools and advice, you can repair your storm water drain yourself.