Sydney summers are perfect for soaking up the sand and surf. But lazy beach days are not the only soaking we’re known for. Hello, summer rainstorms! Every Sydney homeowner knows that sufficient roofwater drainage is crucial – and if they don’t know, they can quickly find out the hard way.
Roofwater drainage is all about moving water away from your property and into stormwater drains. It needs to be regularly maintained and updated to ensure that it can properly redirect rainwater away from your home to prevent water damage and flooding.
Your property’s drainage relies on a complex system of gutters, drains, pipes, pits and more. When one element of the system isn’t functioning as it should, the performance of the rest of the system is compromised. All too often, small blockages lead to big flooding issues.
Read on to learn more about your roofwater drainage system and find out what you can do to ensure yours is ready for the next Sydney downpour.
How much water hits the roof when it rains?
It’s good to know the surface area of your roof because that will determine how much water you will need to divert away from your property. A one-metre squared area will be hit with one litre of water during 1mm of rain. The average rainfall in Sydney in January is 94mm and February is 113mm. In summary, your roof needs to divert a lot of water!
Your roof surface area will determine how your Gladesville plumber will set up your drainage system. This includes how many downpipes are required, the width of your gutters and pipes, and the size and number of rainwater tanks you need.
Gutters
Gutters sit along the outside of your roof and collect the rain that runs off. Neglecting your gutters will lead to sagging and breaking, water damage, infestations and mould. The longer you leave it, the more damage it does to your home.
Proper gutter maintenance is required to give your roofwater drainage system a fighting chance during Sydney storms. They need to be regularly cleaned of leaf litter and debris. It also helps to trim surrounding trees.
Depending on your roof type, location and other factors, you might have different kinds of roofwater drainage. However, most homes with angled roofs will have gutters. Flat-roof homes and businesses may have scupper drains, inner roof drains, or siphonic roof drains.
Downpipes
Downpipes direct the water down from the gutters to the ground. If you are noticing that your gutters are sagging, overflowing, attracting mosquitos or even growing weeds, it might not actually be a gutter problem but a downpipe problem.
A blockage in your downpipe will cause build-up and overflow in your gutter. Debris may accumulate in one area, usually at the angles at the top or the bottom of the downpipe. To prevent this, downpipes should be detached and cleaned. When regular maintenance is neglected, downpipes can become damaged, mouldy, rusted or misaligned. These will need to be replaced. You can also install downpipe filters to stop debris from getting in.
Problems can also occur when not enough downpipes have been installed. If gutters and downpipes are blockage-free and otherwise operational but you still have an issue with gutters overflowing during rain, you may need more downpipes installed. A plumber can assess your roofwater drainage system and provide solutions.
Stormwater Pits and Drains
Stormwater pits collect the water from your downpipes. Drains then direct that water away from your property and into the stormwater system. Both pits and drains can be blocked by tree roots and debris. If your gutters have lots of debris in them, loose bits can flow into your roofwater pits and drains, causing more blockages and slow flow. Check your system for visible damage like cracks and arrange plumbing repairs promptly to avoid future problems.
In some cases, roofwater systems are incorrectly connected to sewer pipes which are not designed to handle rainwater. If you suspect your roofwater may be draining into a sewer pipe, call your plumber ASAP. That’s an overflow you don’t want to deal with!
Backyard Drainage
A backyard pool is great. A knee-deep puddle where your lawn used to be…not so much. If your backyard regularly floods during a rain event, it’s time to assess the drainage system. It could be a case of your backyard drainage design needing an overhaul, or the problem may stem from inadequate roofwater drainage. A blocked stormwater drain can also lead to pooling and/or slow-draining water in the yard. Don’t waste time trying to guess the culprit for your backyard water park. Call your Sydney plumber for a comprehensive assessment of the issue.
How can a plumber help?
A plumber has the expertise to diagnose drainage problems, repair and upgrade existing drainage systems and design a completely new one. If you’re having ongoing issues with rainwater drainage on your property, a plumber can help in several ways.
- Detecting and fixing blocked drains inside and outside the home
- CCTV drain inspections for blockages
- Backyard drainage inspections and design
- Stormwater pit installation
- Stormwater pump installation