How to Clean a Roof Drain
- 1
Make sure your ladder is sturdy and stable before climbing it.ladder image by Joann Cooper from Fotolia.com
Place a sturdy ladder or tall stepstool next to the roof's vertical drain. Make sure the ladder is on level, even ground. - 2). Put on your work gloves, climb the ladder and inspect the top opening of the drain. If there are any leaves or other debris blocking the opening, pull out as much as possible. Always wear work gloves when working on rain gutters and drains, because the metal can be sharp, and nails or screws may be jutting out in inconspicuous places.
- 3
Use a garden hose to flush out the drain.water or garden hose image by Katrina Miller from Fotolia.com
Have someone hand the end of a garden hose up to you while you're standing on the ladder. Position the hose so it is pointing down the drain, and have your helper turn on the water. If the water does not run out the bottom of the drain, you have a clog and will need to move on to Step 4. - 4). From the bottom of the drain, insert a plumber's auger (snake). The snake will force compacted material out of the drain. Because leaves and other solid matter will be falling down the drain, you may need to pull the auger out several times to clear away leaves, then insert the auger again. Continue using the auger until it reaches the top of the drain or until you can feel that the auger has passed all blockages.
- 5). Once the auger reaches the top of the drain, use the hose again to flush the drain with water from the top of the drain. More leaves and other debris should come out of the bottom of the drain because they've been loosened by the auger. Continue to flush the drain with water until the water runs clear.
