How to Unclog an Exterior Drain Pipe

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Skip the plumber and save yourself some money by clearing your exterior drain yourself

Co-authored by David Balkan and Eric McClure

Last Updated: July 19, 2024 Fact Checked

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• Using Bleach
|
• Using Baking Soda and Vinegar
|
• Preventing Clogs
|
• Video
|
• Expert Q&A
|
• Warnings

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Notice an odd smell coming from a drain? Water pooling up around an outdoor drain after a heavy storm? Unfortunately, you probably have a clog. The good news is that this isn’t a particularly serious problem and tons of people run into this issue all the time. Luckily, there are plenty of easy ways to deal with this problem yourself. Read on to learn how to clear your outdoor drains.

Things You Should Know

Pop the cover of your drain off and run a drain auger down the drain to break up any serious clogs. If your drain is slow, pour baking soda and vinegar down it to clean the pipe and remove any gunk that’s slowing things down. To keep blockages from reoccurring, clean your drain and drain cover regularly.

Steps

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Using Bleach

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1. 1
   Lift the grate covering your drain with a screwdriver. If there are screws or fasteners holding the drain in place, remove them with the appropriate screwdriver. Otherwise, stick the end of a flathead screwdriver in between the openings of the grate. Bend the screwdriver back to pry the grate away from the drain. Set the grate aside while working inside your drain.

   • Put on elbow-length rubber gloves before you begin if you’d like to keep your hands and arms clean.
   • If the drain has a solid top, pry it up from the edge instead.
   • If the grate is heavy, you may need to use a grate hook (aka a drain key) to lift it. Slip the end of the hook under the grate and lift it up.
2. 2
   Remove the blockage from your drain by hand if you can see it. If your hands fit inside of the drain and you notice any obstructions, reach into the water and see if you can break apart the clog. Scoop out any debris and throw it away in a trash can. Keep scooping out the clog until you can’t pick up anymore.

   • Leaves, twigs, and bits of trash are all easy to remove by hand.
   • If the blockage is just barely out of sight or you don’t want to get your hands dirty, use a bent wire hanger to grab whatever is blocking your drain.
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3. 3
   Use a drain auger to break apart clogs you can’t reach. Drain augers (aka snakes, or drain rods) are long flexible plumbing tools used to break apart blockages deep within the pipes. Feed the end of the auger into your drain, using short bursts to force it further down. Once the rod is in the drain pipe, spin it clockwise to break apart the clog.

   • If there’s a solid obstruction, pull out the rod and use the corkscrew attachment instead of the plunger.
   • If you find branches or clumps of dirt, don’t be alarmed—that’s typical for exterior drains. Stuff just pours in over time, it doesn’t mean the drain is broken.
4. 4
   Pour water and bleach into the drain to rinse out any additional debris. Spray the drain opening with 1 gallon (3.8 L) of water using your hose to test the drainage and to get rid of any loose material. Use 1–2 cups (240–470 ml) of undiluted chlorine bleach to neutralize any smells and to break apart any residual obstructions.

   • If the drain still runs slow, use your drain auger until it works again. If you still can’t get it to work, you may need to call a professional.
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Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Using Baking Soda and Vinegar

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1. 1
   Pour 1 cup (208 g) of baking soda into the drain. Remove the grate on top of your drain so the baking soda can get into your pipes. Measure out 1 cup (208 g) of baking soda and pour it directly into the drain.

   • If your drain is completely clogged, use a snake to break the clog apart first before you do this.
   • This is a 100% natural way to clean and clear out your drain. Unlike chemical drain cleaners, this won’t put any strain on your pipes.
2. 2
   Add 1  c (240 ml) of vinegar to the drain to start a reaction. After the baking soda, pour white distilled vinegar in the drain. The vinegar will start to bubble and react with the baking soda as soon as they’re together.
3. 3
   Let the mixture sit in your drain for 30 minutes. The baking soda and vinegar will naturally break down all of the material that’s stuck in your drain. You can wait even longer if you’d like, or add a second round of vinegar and baking soda if it still looks like your drain is a little slow to empty.

   • If there's a chance of rain, cover the drain with a rag or plug so the vinegar and baking soda don't rinse out.
4. 4
   Dump a pot of boiling water into the drain to rinse everything out. Fill a large pot with water and bring it to a boil on your stove. Throw on some oven mitts and carefully carry the pot outside to the drain. Slowly pour the water into the drain. The water will lift any loose material inside your pipes and help clean everything out.

   • If you don’t have vinegar and baking soda, feel free to use boiling water on its own. The heat should be enough to break up some blockages.
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Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Preventing Clogs

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1. 1
   Cover the drain with a screen or dome to prevent large debris from falling in. Drain screens are protective grates or meshes used to keep leaves and other debris out of your pipes. Set the screen or dome over your drain so it collects any possible obstructions.

   • Clean your drain screens after especially heavy storms to remove any obstructions and snake the drain lines at least once a year to remove any debris buildup.
2. 2
   Clean out the drain once a month so clogs cannot form. Try to clean your drains frequently, even if they aren’t clogged. Either use a snake to break apart small obstructions or use a baking soda and vinegar treatment. With monthly maintenance, your outdoor drains won’t clog.

   • If you have severe storms, check your drains the following day to see if there is any debris stuck in the drain.
3. 3
   Use a biological enzyme cleaner when your drain is running slow. Biological enzymes use natural bacteria to break down organic materials in your pipes. Wait until a clear evening when you aren’t expecting rain in your area. Pour the entire bag of the enzyme into your drain and let it work overnight.

   • Enzyme cleaners are safe to use with septic tank lines since they won't harm the helpful bacteria. If you have a clog in a septic drain, try enzyme cleaners before any harsh chemicals.
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Expert Q&A

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• Question

  How can I clear a drain outside on my own?

  

  David Balkan
  Professional Plumber

  David Balkan is a Professional Plumber, CEO of Balkan Sewer and Water Main Service, and President of Balkan Sewer and Drain Cleaning. As a hands-on owner of these companies for over 40 years, David is knowledgeable about water service lines, sewers, and drain line issues. David is a Committee Chairman of the Master Plumbers Council and has sat on the Executive Committee of the Sub Surface Plumbers Association of New York for over 30 years. His knowledge and solution-oriented approach contributed to Balkan Sewer and Water Main Service being the largest and most trusted service in New York City and the recipient of the 2017 Angie’s List Super Service Award.

  

  David Balkan

  Professional Plumber

  Expert Answer

  You really need to call a professional for that. The lines are larger outside, so you really need a professional-sized snake. If that doesn't work, the professional can use other tools, like high-pressure water jets.

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  Not Helpful 9 Helpful 4
• Question

  Is it normal for water to be in the pipes of an outside drain or does that indicate a clog?

  

  wikiHow Staff Editor
  Staff Answer

  This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.

  

  wikiHow Staff Editor

  Staff Answer

  If you're talking about water inside of the pipe deeper down that you can see with a flashlight, yes, that's totally normal. Every drain has a J-shaped pipe where a little water pools up. This keeps the gas in the pipe from getting out and smelling badly.

  Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
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• Question

  if you have water in the storm celler how do you get the baking soda and vinegar down the pipe?

  

  wikiHow Staff Editor
  Staff Answer

  This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.

  

  wikiHow Staff Editor

  Staff Answer

  You wouldn't use baking soda and vinegar in that scenario. Your blockage is completely preventing water from draining, so you have to use a drain auger.

  Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
  Thank you for your feedback.
  If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow

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Warnings

• Don’t use caustic soda. It’s corrosive to PVC pipes and it can cause you to go blind if you accidentally get it in your eyes.
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