[Debbie D]

Had a French drain installed in 2019 . It may be clogged so water is pooling at base of downspout

Any recommendations on who I would call for help ?

The company I dealt with may not be in business any longer as no response…

Part of the problem could be the down spout may be clogged but I am Unable to budge the downspout.

[villagetinker]

OP, you should be able to remove several screws from the downspout so you can get access to the area of the French drain. This may take some persuasion of the installed downspout. Then you should be able to see if there is a clog. If so, you may need to install some form of equipment to prevent leaves, etc., from blocking the drain. I handyman may be able to help you with the downspout removal. It appears that many companies refuse to work on equipment they did not install.

[Topspinmo]

Gain access and use garden hose water pressure shoving it down French drain. And up French drain usually will break it up and push it down to up elbow, then you will have to (put gloves on) and reach in and pull debris out. If you have powerful leaf blower you sometimes stick nozzle down access port and blow out the debris’s. It you not willing or able to do that then my guess who call would be handyman ?

[Debbie D]

Eavestrough/downspout removed packed debris. Removed debris from black corrugated piping as far as I could go.
Flushed water down, water backs up and drains slowly. Can’t find the other end of the french drain yet

[Topspinmo]

I don’t know what type unit you have or if have grass? the grass probably covering up up grate, look down French drain hole see if can see which way it running (usually out to Street or in back yard towards slopped area. get long Phillips screwdriver (cause it pointed and easier to push) or any metal rod and push down in grass gently few inches till you hit someone solid? Once you hit something you should be able to outline as 6 inch or diameter and not just rock or something hard? If gravel over weed barrier move rocks around where you might think it ends. It’s been raining so hard to see wet spot. If it draining any water should be soft spot in grass or wet area under the rocks.

[villagetinker]

Originally Posted by Debbie D

Eavestrough/downspout removed packed debris. Removed debris from black corrugated piping as far as I could go.
Flushed water down, water backs up and drains slowly. Can’t find the other end of the french drain yet

This sounds like you had a drain pipe installed and not a French drain. I was able to "trace" our drain by using a long thin screwdriver and probing for the pipe. The screwdriver will stop when it hits the pipe. I moved in 6 inch increments and occasionally left or right if the pipe curved. After around 12 to 15 feet, I found the green popup was completely covered with grass. After I cleaned it out the drain worked fine.

[Debbie D]

Thank you.

I did exactly what you said and I found the green pop up cover.

Removed the cover which is a good 5 ins under the sod.

Saw what looked to be a white pvc elbow with water to the top.

[retiredguy123]

Originally Posted by Debbie D

Thank you.

I did exactly what you said and I found the green pop up cover.

Removed the cover which is a good 5 ins under the sod.

Saw what looked to be a white pvc elbow with water to the top.

It sounds like your drain pipe may have sunk down about 5 inches because the green pop-up cover should be at ground level. You may be able to add a vertical extension to the PVC elbow. Or, you could dig a hole, expose the drain pipe, and prop it up by adding some additional soil under the pipe. You may also want to buy another green pop-up if the one you have is not functioning properly. The green cover should allow water to flow out of the pipe.

[Babbs1957]

So standing water in the pipe? I had roots further down my pipe grab all the leaves and cause a block. I ended up just buying a cheap auger off amazon for 20 bucks. Now I just monitor it for clogs.

[Topspinmo]

Lucky for me I don’t have popup style, I just have grate cover. There is alway standing water at street drain on mine, the water will not siphon all water out is the drain line when it turn up to street. Now that you found the end does the water flow when you add water at the other end? If not need pressure flush it with garden hose or strong leaf blower get debris out of pipe. I alway have to read he down and pull leaves, sand, or what ever made it way down drain pipe so it free flows. It you got trees leaves close you’ll need to periodically keep it cleaned out along with grass frowning over it blocking it again.