Stormwater on Flat Springvale Blocks
Springvale is flat, so rain does not always drain away on its own. How to keep water away from your house.
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Why flat blocks struggle
Stormwater relies on gravity. On flat land, pipes have only a little fall, so silt and leaves settle and water moves slowly. Heavy rain overwhelms small pipes and water pools on paving and against walls.
Problem areas
- courtyards paved level with or above the floor line
- downpipes discharging onto the ground
- subdivided blocks with more roof area feeding old pipes
- pits filled with sand and mulch
Solutions
- jetting and camera checks of existing lines
- grated pits and channel drains in paved areas
- new or larger stormwater pipes
- regrading paving away from the house
- rainwater tanks to capture roof water
Keep it maintained
Clean gutters, keep pits clear, and check after big storms. Water against walls can cause damp, rising damp marks and subfloor problems.
Never connect to the sewer
Stormwater must never be connected to the sewer.
Subdivided blocks
When a block is subdivided, new roofs, driveways and paving increase the amount of water running off. If the old stormwater system was not upgraded, it can overflow in heavy rain. We check whether pipes and pits are big enough and upgrade them if not.
Downpipes discharging onto the ground
Downpipes that empty onto paths or garden beds next to the house can soak foundations. Connect them to the stormwater system or redirect them well away from walls.
Signs underground pipes are failing
Sinking soil along the line of a pipe, water bubbling up in the lawn during rain or pits that fill from below all point to a broken or blocked underground pipe. A camera inspection shows where. On many Springvale blocks the fix is not a big dig. Clearing silt from the existing pipe, adding a pit where water collects and reconnecting a loose downpipe can solve most problems for a fraction of the cost of new drainage.
Springvale ground and pipes
Springvale sits on a mix of sandy loam and heavier clay, and much of the suburb was built in the 1950s and 1960s with earthenware sewer pipes and galvanised or early copper water pipe. Clay joints shift over time and let roots in, rusting galvanised pipe slowly narrows and leaks, and drains under subdivided blocks are often shared between homes. We use drain cameras, locators and pressure tests to see exactly what is going on before anyone digs.
Related services
- Emergency plumbing
- Blocked drains
- Hot water
- Gas fitting
- Hot water replacement
- Heat pumps
- Leaking taps
- Burst pipes
- Toilets
- Leak detection
- Pipe relining
- Stormwater
- Bathrooms and kitchens
- Commercial plumbing
- Grease traps
- Backflow testing
More guides
Why Springvale homes and shops call us
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From 1950s brick veneers to restaurant kitchens on the main strip, we work on both every week.
Plain explanations
We show you what we found, in plain English, with photos when they help.
A price before work
You get a fixed price once the fault is found. Nothing starts until you say yes.
Tidy and on time
We ring ahead, protect floors and take the old parts and mess away.
Get a free quote
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How quoting works
Ring 03 7076 1660 or send the form with a short note and a photo if you can. A licensed plumber calls you back, asks a few questions and books a time. On site they find the cause, explain your options in plain English and give you a fixed price. Nothing starts until you agree, and larger jobs get a free written quote.
Need a plumber in Springvale?
Springvale, Springvale South, Noble Park, Keysborough and nearby suburbs. Quote-only: the plumber finds the fault first, then gives you a fixed price.