Frozen Underground Downspout Drain Pipe

Here in michigan we have weather conditions that create well what you see here a frozen downspout.

Frozen underground downspout drain pipe.

This is frozen completely you can see where the ice has expanded. This greater volume of water creates a huge load on the sump pump which will run almost continuously in heavy. Depending on the trench length and more important the type of soil digging the trench with a shovel can range from relatively easy to downright impossible. Continue until you have completed the trench.

My solution this upcoming year since i had to deal with snow buried frozen downspouts is to cut the downspouts off three feet above ground level and replace as normal for most of the year. When the water from the downspout flows into the drain tile system it multiplies several times over the volume of water the drain tile was designed to handle. Why not use smooth wall storm and sewer pipe. Downspouts buried underground with solid corrugated pipe.

However consistently frozen or frozen solid downspouts may require immediate attention especially if weather conditions will be less than ideal for the foreseeable future. Buried or underground roof drainage downspout defects clogging overflowing holes corrosion leaks that cause wet basements or crawl areas proper installation of buried downspout extensions proper installation of french drains seepage pits at flat sites gutter downspout defects cause wet basements crawl areas questions answers about installing maintaining repairing buried roof. Over time leaves dirt and other debris can clog up the pipe. A downpipe drain is the underground pipe that runs water from gutters away from a building and usually lets out at the curb.

The trench should be at least 6 inches wide and slope down slightly 1 to 2 inches per length of pipe so water drains away from the downspouts. Extending downspouts underground beware the pipe to nowhere. Frozen downspouts can cause costly damage. When the sun does thaw the pipe the grate will still most likely be frozen and the water can find a way into the house.