How would you clear a blocked drainpipe like this from the ground?

[lulu_duffle]

Hi, our neighbour's guttering and downpipe is blocked and overflows when it rains but it ends in our garden. Sounds like the whole 2 storey pipe is blocked when I tap on it. Is there any way I can unblock it from the ground when it's fixed in like this our should I destroy the black grate bit and try get a drain auger up it? Any ideas much appreciated. Thanks, Laura

 

[pcaouolte]

If you can get the lower brackets off which hold the drainpipe to the wall there is often enough wiggle room to lift the pipe a couple of inches to get the joints apart at the bottom. Alternatively can you push the pipe back towards the fence and get that elbow apart? You only need 1 joint to come apart to be able to disassemble all of the others.

 

[lulu_duffle]

Thank you. I'll give that a try

 

[datarebal]

Stand back you might get wet

 

[lulu_duffle]

Too late! The gutter was so full and heavy it fell down and detached itself from the guttering . I got absolutely soaked. Serves me right for not thinking ahead enough. At least it's unblocked and I managed to reconnect it

 

[datarebal]

I got absolutely soaked

These things happen

 

[lulu_duffle]

Lesson learned

 

[pcaouolte]

The last one I did had a joint just above my head height and I did it in the pouring rain.

 

[lulu_duffle]

Oh no! This one was really funny I was digging away at the rotten leaves, unblocking it and even though the water was getting more and more strong, I still carried on. I got 4m worth of downpipe water on my front. I was so relieved it was unblocked, I didn't care. God know's how many years the water has been pouring out of the gutter and all over the fence and garden...

 

[thomp1983]

Now it's clear you probably want to fit a leaf guard to the top of the downpipe to prevent it happening again.

 

[lulu_duffle]

I need a ladder

 

[pcaouolte]

I need a ladder

Or an obliging window cleaner?