Blocked Downpipe? How to Spot It From the Ground and Who Fixes It

Watch it in heavy rain. If water spills over the gutter at the corner where the downpipe is, while the rest of the run looks clear, the downpipe is likely blocked. Little or no water coming out the bottom during a downpour can point the same way. You can check all of this from the ground.

The gutter and the downpipe work as a pair. The gutter catches the rain off the roof and carries it to the downpipe, and the downpipe takes it down to the ground. When the gutter's full of leaves, water spills along the whole run. When the downpipe's blocked, the water backs up at the one spot it was meant to leave.

The tricky part is that a blocked downpipe hides. Gum nuts roll to the low point of the gutter and wedge in the downpipe outlet, out of sight from the ground. So a gutter can look fine from the lawn and still spill every time it pours.

If you're not sure what you're looking at, our guide to the signs your gutters need cleaning covers what a full gutter looks like.

It depends where the blockage is. A clean takes the leaves out of the gutter. Then we check that water runs along each gutter and out the downpipe the way it should. If the pipe itself is blocked further down, that's a plumber's job.

Want the downpipe outlet looked at too? Tell us when you book, and we'll say straight whether it's part of the job. If water still won't run out the bottom once the gutter's clear, the problem's likely in the pipe.

Clear gutter, still spilling, and the downpipe's running fine? Then look at the slope and size of the gutter. Our guide to what's behind overflowing gutters goes through each cause and who fixes it.

Once the blockage is in the pipe or under the ground, we'd call a licensed plumber or drainer. The Queensland Building and Construction Commission (QBCC) has a drainage licence (opens in a new tab) for the pipes that take the water away. Its scope is to “Install, commission, maintain and test above and below ground waste water, stormwater and sanitary drainage systems”.

So when the trouble is in the stormwater line, that's the licence to look for. A gutter cleaner handles the gutter above it.

Before you book anyone, check their licence. The Queensland Government's page on plumbing laws (opens in a new tab) says “Check your plumber is licensed by searching online or contacting the Queensland Building and Construction Commission (QBCC) on 139 333.”

In Brisbane, the pipe on your block is yours to look after. The council says “Property owners and Council share responsibility for stormwater drains in Brisbane.” It looks after the drains past the boundary. Other councils set their own rules, so check with yours.

Brisbane City Council spells out the owner's side. Property owners must “maintain the stormwater outlet leading to the point of discharge.” The council's side is the rest: “Council maintains stormwater drainage and infrastructure beyond property boundary lines.”

So if a drain or grate in the street is blocked, that's one for the council. Its stormwater drains page (opens in a new tab) lets you “report blocked or damaged drains or grates” online. If the blockage is in the pipe on your side, call a licensed plumber or drainer.

Live in Brisbane? Our page on gutter cleaning in Brisbane covers what fills gutters in each part of the city.

Keep to what you can check from the ground. Watch where the water goes in heavy rain, and look at where the downpipe meets the ground. Anything that means climbing to the gutter, or opening up the pipe, is a job for someone with the right gear or the right licence.

Clearing the pipe itself takes the right tools and some know-how. If you'd rather not take that on, get a licensed plumber or drainer for the pipe.

The gutter end is ladder work, and that's riskier than it looks. Our guide on whether gutter cleaning is dangerous explains why we'd rather you stayed on the ground.

Keep the gutter clear, so less ends up at the outlet. What blocks a downpipe often starts in the gutter, like leaves and gum nuts. Get it cleaned before storm season, and more often if you've got gums or palms overhead. A clear gutter sends water down the pipe, not leaves.

The Queensland Government says the same. Its storm advice (opens in a new tab) is to “Clean gutters and downpipes so water can drain away as quickly as possible.” It adds that “The best time to take action to prepare your home is before storm, cyclone and monsoon season.” Our storm season checklist goes through the rest of that list.

If your gutters fill faster than you can book a clean, ask us about gutter guard. Gutter guard keeps leaves out of the gutter. It can't clear a blocked downpipe, so get the pipe sorted first.

We clean gutters across Brisbane, the Sunshine Coast and the Gold Coast. We've been family-owned for over 25 years and we're fully insured. Quotes are free.