So, my backyard drainage system is acting up again—third time this year, ugh. It's one of those French drain setups, and I'm pretty sure it's clogged somewhere down the line. Last time, I had a guy come out and clear it, but honestly, paying someone every few months is getting old real fast. I'm thinking of tackling it myself this weekend.
I've been looking around online and seems like there are two popular DIY methods people swear by: using a plumbing snake or blasting it clear with a pressure washer attachment. I've got access to both, so that's not an issue. But I'm kinda torn on which way to go.
The snake seems straightforward enough, just shove it down there and twist until things clear up. But I'm worried it might not fully clear out the mud and debris, you know? Like, maybe it'll just poke a hole through the clog without really cleaning it out completely. Plus, I've heard some horror stories about snakes getting stuck or breaking off inside the pipe, and that's a headache I definitely don't need right now.
On the other hand, the pressure washer method sounds kinda satisfying, blasting all that gunk outta there. But I'm a little nervous about damaging the pipe or making a huge muddy mess in the yard. Also, my neighbor tried it once and ended up covered head-to-toe in mud—funny for me, not so much for him, lol.
Anyway, has anyone here tried either method? Which one worked better for you, and did you run into any unexpected issues? Just wanna get this sorted without creating more problems for myself.
