Hiring Contractors For Home Improvements

5 Tips for Cleaning Trench Drains

23 October 2017

Tim Graham

Cleaning a trench drain can be challenging. These drains may accumulate a lot of dirt, leaves and other debris. Luckily, there are ways to clean these drains and even more importantly, to reduce the amount of debris that enters them. Take a look at these ideas.

1. Remove the Grate and Scoop

If you can remove the trench grate, you can just scoop out the debris that has accumulated there. Removing trench grates can be difficult, and you usually need a special wrench to remove the bolts. Then, you can pry up the grate with a pry bar. Once everything is out of the way, just scoop out the debris.

2. Use a Hole and a Sump Pump

If you have the ability to dig a hole that's deeper than the drain itself, you may be able to get the debris out using a sump pump. This type of pump can handle solids. Basically, you need to dig a hole next to the trench grate, and the bottom of the hole needs to be below the base of the trench.

Then, you need to run a length of hose through the grate. Leave one side of the hose open and attach the other side to a sump pump. Place the sump pump in the hole—you may want to put it in a bucket to protect it from the soil in the hole. When you start the sump pump, it should suck the debris out of the trench.

3. Opt for a Slot Drain

If you are just putting in your trench drain and you are worried about cleaning, you may want to skip the grate, and opt for a slot drain instead. Usually, these options are sold by the same company.

Slot drains work on the same principle as trench drains, but instead of having a large opening covered by a grate, they only have a small opening. That makes it harder for debris to get into the drain. If anything does get in there, you can clean it with a special paddle.

4. Choose a Self Cleaning Drain

There are also trench drains that are self cleaning. Typically, they feature an attachment at one end where you can connect a high-pressure hosepipe. Then, you turn that on as needed, or you connect it to a timber for automatic cleaning.

5. Remember Preventative Methods

Finally, regardless of the type of trench drain you select, you should focus on preventative methods. For example, rake the leaves as soon as possible after they fall so they are less likely to get into your drain.

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