Stormwater problems: overflowing pits, downpipes and flooded yards
When heavy rain hits, a blocked or broken stormwater system shows up fast: water pouring over the gutters, pits overflowing, puddles against the house or water coming under the back door. This guide explains how your stormwater works, the common problems, the warning signs and how to get ready before storm season. It's written by the local plumbers who fix stormwater every week across Matraville, Maroubra, Malabar, Botany and the southern Eastern Suburbs.
How your stormwater works
Rain runs off the roof into the gutters, down the downpipes and into underground pipes. Water from paving and lawns runs into surface pits and grated drains. All of it flows through your pipes to the legal point of discharge, usually a kerb outlet in the street gutter or a council pipe or pit. Stormwater is separate from the sewer and must never be connected to it.
Common stormwater problems
Blocked downpipes and pits
Leaves, sand and silt build up at the base of downpipes and in pits until the water has nowhere to go.
Broken or crushed pipes
Old clay or thin PVC pipes crack, collapse or get crushed by driveways and tree roots, so water backs up or soaks into the ground.
Blocked kerb outlets
The outlet where the pipe meets the street gutter fills with sand and leaves, or gets cracked by cars and footpath works.
Too little drainage
New paving, extensions or landscaping send more water to a system that was never sized for it, or leave low spots with no drain.
Warning signs
- Gutters overflowing even though they've been cleaned (the downpipe or pipe below is blocked)
- Water bubbling up out of a pit or around a downpipe
- Puddles that sit for days against the house
- Damp walls, a musty subfloor or water coming under doors
- Sinking pavers or a soft patch in the lawn along the pipe line
- The kerb outlet stays dry during heavy rain
How we fix it
- Clear it: we jet the pipes and pits to flush out silt, sand and roots.
- Camera inspection: a camera shows breaks, roots and collapsed sections, and where they are.
- Repair: we replace or reline damaged sections, fit new pits or grated drains, and repair or replace kerb outlets.
- Fix the cause: where the system is undersized or a low spot floods, we explain the options to move water away from the house.
Get ready before storm season
- Clear leaves from gutters, and check the downpipes run freely.
- Lift pit grates and scoop out silt and leaves.
- Check the kerb outlet isn't full of sand or debris.
- Make sure garden beds and paving slope away from the house.
- If a pit or downpipe overflowed last storm, get it checked before the next one.
Stormwater in southern Eastern Suburbs homes
Sandy soil in Maroubra, Malabar, Matraville and Botany washes into pits and pipes and slowly fills them. Many older homes still have clay stormwater pipes that roots get into, and plenty have had paving or extensions added over the years without extra drainage. Flat, low-lying blocks near Botany Bay can also drain slowly in heavy rain.
Why locals call us for stormwater
- Based in Matraville, close to every southern Eastern Suburbs home
- 100+ five-star Google reviews
- Camera footage of your pipes is yours to keep
- A fixed price before any work starts
- Licensed plumbers and drainers (Lic. 398171C)
Common questions
Why are my gutters overflowing when they're clean?
The downpipe or the underground pipe it runs into is probably blocked or broken, so water can't get away fast enough.
Can stormwater be connected to the sewer?
No. Stormwater must be kept separate from the sewer. Connections between the two are illegal and can cause sewer overflows in heavy rain.
Who fixes a blocked kerb outlet?
Responsibility can depend on the council and where the problem is. We'll find out where the blockage is and tell you what we find.
Why does my yard flood in heavy rain?
Usually blocked or broken pipes, pits that are too small, or low spots with no drain. A camera inspection and a look at how water moves across the yard shows the cause.
Stormwater trouble? See our stormwater plumbing, blocked drains and CCTV drain inspection services, our tree roots guide, or your local page: Matraville, Maroubra, Malabar, Pagewood, Eastgardens, Botany and Little Bay. Know the rules: read our stormwater rules guide. More plumbing guides.