Causes of blocked stormwater drains

What are the causes of blocked stormwater drains in your Melbourne home or workplace? This is easily, a question that can leave you scratching your head and scrambling to call a licensed plumber for help.
These issues can crop up quite suddenly – sometimes due to long-developing hidden causes, while others are more obvious.

You can still remain on top of potential issues with your building’s stormwater drainage, by reading about these 5 most common signs of blocked stormwater drains.

What causes stormwater drain blockage?

There are a few usual suspects that can clog stormwater drains.

Organic matter

The most common enemy of the stormwater pipes…
Downpipes and gutters are built to carry rainwater during a heavy downpour. The gushing water, in turn, carries with it any environmental matter on its way, including leaves, dirt, tree bark fragments, and so on.
These start to decompose, and the prolonged build-up of the resulting residue in the pipelines can cause a blockage, if not cleared away regularly.

Growing tree roots can also intrude into the stormwater pipes, resulting in a blockage that is difficult to detect easily from the outside. If you suspect this may be the case, we strongly recommend you contact Doherty Plumbing Solutions as soon as possible to assess the situation before it escalates into a bigger problem.

Solid waste

Flowing rainwater can easily carry solid waste materials, such as plastic bottles and bags, sand, gravel, etc… and often deposits it where you least expect, your stormwater drains. When such non-organic rubbish and debris accumulate over a long duration inside the stormwater connections, they are a primary cause of blockages. These types of blockages often require the assistance of a professional plumber like Doherty Plumbing Solutions.

Stormwater pipeline construction

If your stormwater network has not been laid down correctly by a professional plumber, or the stormwater pipeline is damaged, this could lead to blockage.

This consequently prevents the rainwater from being drained properly, thus causing overflowing / flooding in your property.

Where can I get plumbing help for blocked stormwater pipes in Melbourne’s east?

If you are concerned about the possibility of a blocked stormwater drainage system at your property, you need professional help from Doherty Plumbing Solutions.

Our team of experienced plumbers work across Melbourne’s eastern suburbs and can help promptly detect the root cause and resolve the issue at your home or business, with minimal disruption to you.

We have access to drain cameras and drain machines that can accurately diagnose plumbing problems related to stormwater blockage if required, and help with the cleaning process.

Contact the friendly team at Doherty Plumbing Solutions today.

Enquiry

Please include any relevant images you may have of work required.
Drop files here or
Accepted file types: jpg, jpeg, png, Max. file size: 4 MB, Max. files: 3.
    This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
    I rang them early morning & they arrived on the same day. They found the leak which was under the house, fixed it promptly. The plumber was helpful & friendly, communicated well. I'll use them again.
    Elizabeth Avatar
    Elizabeth
    8/13/2024
    Second time I've used doherty's, first did full storm water drainage, second new hot water system. Great work from the whole team both times. Definitely will use again and also recommend them.
    Michael Prince Avatar
    Michael Prince
    5/20/2023
    Guys arrived on time ..they were very clear as to what our job required and in no time fixed our issue..I would highly recommend Doherty Plumbing!
    Janet halley Avatar
    Janet halley
    2/29/2024
    Responsive, reasonably priced and pleasant to deal with. Have used several times in the past and will continue to do so.
    Fiona Walliss Avatar
    Fiona Walliss
    9/13/2024
    I was very impressed with the speed and professionalism of the plumber who attended the issue and resolved it. Would highly recommend this plumbing service to others and will use if needed for any future plumbing problems.
    Andrew Reid Avatar
    Andrew Reid
    5/20/2023
    I have been dealing with Doherty Plumbing for some years and I find them to be professional, knowledgeable and prompt. Their costs are very competitive. They are quick and always fix the problem. They have been so competent and reliable, that I will always call them and never go anywhere else.
    Gillian Morgan Avatar
    Gillian Morgan
    2/06/2025
    I was very impressed with the service. From the time I made the phone call and all the costs were advised until I received a text message advising Tim would be at my place within 9 minutes. Tim was very professional and I will use your Company in future if I have any plumbing work to be done.
    Noel Harvey Avatar
    Noel Harvey
    8/23/2023
    Quick and efficient. The work was done as quoted and unlike many tradies they turned up when they said they would. Very happy with there work.
    Tony G Avatar
    Tony G
    12/13/2024
    Of the many plumbing services they offer, this is the second time I've engaged them for different types of work. James has been very helpful and efficient in scheduling a time for a roof leak repair. Very pleased that the work was completed promptly. Trust that they have addressed the issues at hand.
    tjokro aminoto Avatar
    tjokro aminoto
    12/13/2024
    This is the second time I have used Doherty Plumbing Solutions. Their service and communication is first class. Tim and Angus were very professional. They were able to find the source of a difficult leak and make the appropriate repairs. I appreciate the quality work that they have done.
    Margaret Holdsworth Avatar
    Margaret Holdsworth
    12/30/2023
    For reliable plumbing services, call 03 9877 5775 or 0417 577 432