What if your street flooded because drains were clogged?

Using broom handles or random sticks down a storm drain is a pet peeve of mine too. It might seem like a quick fix, but you’re right—there’s a ton of risk there, especially with older clay or even cast iron pipes. I’ve seen more than a few folks accidentally punch through a connection or get something wedged in tighter, making the clog worse.

As for drain snakes, the ones meant for indoor plumbing usually aren’t robust enough for outdoor storm drains. Those pipes are larger and the debris is often stuff like sticks, rocks, or even chunks of asphalt—things that’ll just jam up a regular snake or damage it. If it’s just leaves and surface gunk, your method with a rake and gloves is honestly the safest bet for most people.

If there’s a deeper blockage, that’s really a job for city maintenance or someone with the right equipment. Getting too aggressive can cause more harm than good. It’s frustrating when the street floods, but sometimes the best move is just keeping the grate clear and letting the pros handle what’s below.

I get where you’re coming from about leaving the deeper stuff to the city, but I’ve actually had a situation where waiting for them just wasn’t an option. Last fall, a storm dumped a ton of water and the street was turning into a river. I tried the rake-and-gloves thing, but the water wasn’t budging. Ended up using a cheap, heavy-duty drain auger (not the skinny indoor kind, but one of those thick, coiled ones from the hardware store) and it actually cleared a wad of roots and trash that was just past the grate. Didn’t have to go far in, maybe a couple feet.

I get that you can mess things up if you’re too aggressive, especially with old pipes, but sometimes you gotta take a calculated risk if your basement’s about to flood. Maybe not for everyone, but if you’re careful and know what you’re poking at, it can work in a pinch. Still, if it’s anything deeper or you hit solid resistance, yeah, probably best to back off and call the city.

I get the urge to jump in when water’s rising—been there, panicking about my own basement. But I’m always nervous about sticking anything down a city drain.

“if you’re careful and know what you’re poking at, it can work in a pinch.”

WORRIED ABOUT THE COST IF YOU MESS UP? SAME HERE

- I totally get the urge to just grab a rake or shovel and start poking at the drain when the water’s creeping up your driveway. But honestly, I’m with you—my main worry is accidentally making things worse and then getting stuck with a bill from the city.
- I’ve heard mixed stories from neighbors. One guy down the block tried to clear a storm drain with a broom handle and ended up snapping it off inside. The city had to come out, and he swears they sent him a bill for “obstruction removal.” Not sure if that’s standard or if he just got unlucky, but it freaked me out enough to keep my hands off.
- On the other hand, I’ve seen people just clear leaves and debris from the top of the grate, and nobody seems to care about that. I think as long as you’re not actually sticking stuff *down* into the drain, you’re probably fine. But who really knows? The rules seem kind of murky.
- My big fear is damaging something underground. If you push a clog further in or break a pipe, that’s not just a city problem anymore—it’s potentially your insurance or your wallet on the line. I’m not exactly rolling in cash, so I’d rather risk a little water than a huge repair bill.
- I wish there was a clearer answer from the city about what’s okay and what’s not. Seems like it shouldn’t be this confusing, but here we are.

I guess for now, I just stick to clearing the surface junk and hope for the best. If it looks like a bigger problem, I call it in and cross my fingers they show up before my basement turns into a swimming pool...

Totally get where you’re coming from. I’ve had the same debate with myself every time there’s a big rain and the water starts pooling up. I want to help, but I’m not about to risk a surprise bill or worse, like you said, breaking something underground. The city’s “guidelines” (if you can even call them that) are so vague it’s almost like they want us to just guess and hope for the best.

I’ve always just stuck to clearing off the leaves and trash sitting on top of the grate. Anything more than that feels risky. One time, my neighbor tried to fish out a plastic bag that was stuck a little deeper with a stick, and it ended up getting wedged in there even worse. City had to come out and they weren’t exactly thrilled about it. No bill that time, but they did leave a pretty stern warning on his door.

Honestly, I wish the city would just put out a simple flyer or something—“Here’s what you can do, here’s what you shouldn’t.” Would make life easier for everyone. Until then, I’m with you: surface junk only. If it looks like more than that, I call it in and hope for the best.

One thing I do try to keep up with is making sure my own yard waste doesn’t end up in the street in the first place. It’s not perfect—wind blows stuff around—but at least it feels like I’m doing my part without risking a plumbing disaster or some weird fine.

Funny thing is, I’ve seen people dump grass clippings straight into the gutter like it’s no big deal. Drives me nuts because then we all end up dealing with clogged drains and flooded streets. Maybe if more folks realized how much hassle it causes (and how expensive it could get), they’d think twice.

Anyway, until the city gets their act together with clearer rules, I’m playing it safe. Not worth gambling with my wallet or my peace of mind.