Where do buried rain downspouts go?

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Old 08-15-2020, 11:47 AM
maybe maybe is offline
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Default Where do buried rain downspouts go?

Some of my rain gutter downspouts simply spill onto the ground, but others go straight down into the ground. Then where? I had thought into some kind of dry well, but I then heard of them going into storm drains. Did, do, they use both in TV? I have a ranch north of 466.
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Old 08-15-2020, 12:37 PM
VApeople VApeople is offline
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Probably the previous owner had an underground line put in from your drain spout to a small grate out in your yard. Then the zoysia grass grew over the grate so it is hidden.

We had this done in our yard and the grass totally hid the grate within three years. We located the grate and cleaned it out. I have no idea if it harmful to just leave it alone.
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Old 08-15-2020, 12:43 PM
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I agree with above the underground lines go to a 'pop-up' or a grated drain where the water go out to the yard. Now your task will be to find the end of the run. I you have a snake or can borrow one, you may be able to insert the snake where the downspout connects, then keep inserting it until it stops. Make the snake, and remove, then layout across the yard and mark an arc for possible locations. I then used a Philips screw driver to probe the area for the pop-up took about 2 hours for each one, but I found them. I then removed these and installed short extensions so they were slightly below the mowed grass. seems to be working so far.
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Old 08-15-2020, 12:51 PM
retiredguy123 retiredguy123 is offline
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Most likely, the downspouts do not extend directly into the storm drainage system in the street. They could go into a square area drain in your yard as mentioned above. But, they could also go into a pipe that terminates near the curb in your front yard, with a pop-up plastic drain device. The pop-up drain will have a round top that floats up when the pipe fills with water. Either way, the area drain and/or the pop-up drain could be buried. Also, mentioned above.
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Old 08-15-2020, 01:24 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by VApeople View Post
Probably the previous owner had an underground line put in from your drain spout to a small grate out in your yard. Then the zoysia grass grew over the grate so it is hidden.

We had this done in our yard and the grass totally hid the grate within three years. We located the grate and cleaned it out. I have no idea if it harmful to just leave it alone.
That’s exactly we had done. Debris and leaves cover it from time to time and it has to be cleaned off. The small grate will probably be near the left or right corner of your yard. Also look at the general slope in your yard.
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Old 08-15-2020, 10:29 PM
mtdjed mtdjed is offline
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I put a hose into my downspout and quickly saw where the exit was.
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Old 08-16-2020, 06:16 AM
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I have no idea if it harmful to just leave it alone.
What happens is that the outlet is blocked and so the water backs up and spills out at the joint between the downspout and underground pipe. It defeats the purpose of the underground pipe. You should check the grate every few months, otherwise it is hard to find. I had to use a hose to put water into the joint and it took quite a bit of searching before I found a wet spot in the yard and then found the buried grate.
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Old 08-16-2020, 07:10 AM
retiredguy123 retiredguy123 is offline
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If you have a properly graded yard, you may be able to disconnect the downspout from the underground pipe and let the water flow onto your yard.
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Old 08-16-2020, 08:59 AM
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Depends on what style house you live in? I live in CYV the front eve drains drain out to street. The rear could drain to the underground easement drain that runs down concrete wall to street drain and has yard drain also.

I flush my French drain out to street with my EGO Turbo charged blower . It blows water 5 foot high and most of the debris out. With the grate removed I reach down and clean out any rock, leaves, or sand off shingles left in the drain.

Last edited by Topspinmo; 09-28-2020 at 05:27 PM.
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Old 08-16-2020, 09:01 AM
DonnaNi4os DonnaNi4os is offline
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Sounds like you have French drains.
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Old 08-16-2020, 11:42 PM
Alaska Butch Alaska Butch is offline
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Typically they simply infiltrate into the sand.
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Old 08-24-2020, 03:53 PM
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Thanks for all the info. As some mentioned was possible, if there are drain outlets in the yard, they are now covered and hidden.
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ground, downspouts, rain, gutter, drains


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