Understanding What You’re Working With

Before you grab a garden hose or a drain snake, it helps to understand what a storm drain actually does. Storm drains are designed to move rainwater away from streets, driveways, and yards and direct it into the local drainage system. They’re not the same as your household plumbing, and they’re not always maintained by the same people.

In Durham, NC, storm drains that sit in public streets are typically the responsibility of the city. Drains on private property — including those in your driveway, backyard, or along your foundation — are yours to maintain. Knowing which type you’re dealing with changes everything about how you should approach the problem.

It’s also worth knowing the difference between a storm drain and a catch basin, since people often use the terms interchangeably when they actually refer to different structures. If you want a clear breakdown of how those two compare and what cleaning each one involves, take a look at our guide on storm drain vs catch basin cleaning.

What You Can Reasonably Do Yourself

Not every drainage issue requires a service call. There are situations where a motivated homeowner with the right tools can address the problem on their own, and we want to be straightforward with you about that.

Surface-Level Debris Removal

If leaves, twigs, or sediment are blocking the grate of your storm drain, that’s usually something you can clear yourself. Put on a pair of work gloves, remove the grate if it’s accessible, and scoop out whatever has accumulated on top. A stiff-bristled brush and a garden hose can help flush out the remaining buildup. This kind of routine maintenance goes a long way toward preventing bigger blockages during Durham’s heavier rain seasons.

Flushing a Lightly Clogged Drain

If water is draining slowly but still moving, a garden hose directed into the drain can sometimes dislodge a soft clog. Run water at full pressure for several minutes and watch whether the flow improves. This works best when the clog is close to the surface and made up of loose material rather than compacted debris or grease.

Keeping the Area Clean

Preventive maintenance is genuinely within reach for most property owners. Regularly sweeping debris away from your drain openings, redirecting downspouts, and keeping vegetation trimmed back from drainage areas can significantly reduce how often serious clogs develop. These are habits worth building, and they do make a real difference over time.

When DIY Isn’t Enough

There’s a point where trying to handle a storm drain problem on your own stops being practical and starts carrying real risk — to your property, to the drainage infrastructure, and sometimes to your own safety. Here are the situations where it’s time to step back and call a professional.

Water That Won’t Drain at All

If water is standing completely still after a storm — not just slow, but genuinely not moving — you’re likely dealing with a blockage that’s too deep or too compacted for surface-level cleaning to reach. Forcing a snake or high-pressure water into an unknown obstruction without knowing what’s down there can cause damage to the drain walls or push debris further into the system. A professional has the camera equipment to see what’s actually happening before taking action.

Recurring Clogs in the Same Spot

If you’ve cleared a drain before and it keeps backing up in the same place, that’s a signal that something structural may be going on. Tree roots are a common culprit in older Durham neighborhoods. So is pipe deterioration or a gradual collapse in the line. These aren’t problems a hose or a hand tool can fix.

Foul Odors or Unusual Discoloration

If you’re noticing sewage smells near your storm drain or water coming out with unusual color or sediment, there may be a cross-connection between your storm system and your sanitary sewer line. That’s a situation that requires immediate professional assessment. It can have implications for your property and for local water quality.

Drain Grates That Are Damaged or Sunken

A grate that’s cracked, severely corroded, or sitting lower than it should be may indicate underlying structural issues. Removing or disturbing it without understanding what’s below can be genuinely dangerous. This is work that belongs to a trained drainage technician.

Any Work Near the Main Line

If your drain connects to a larger drainage infrastructure — which many Durham properties do — any significant intervention near that junction should be handled by someone with the proper licensing and equipment. Mistakes at that level can affect neighboring properties and potentially trigger liability issues.

What Professional Cleaning Actually Involves

When Drain Express handles a storm drain cleaning, it’s not just a matter of running water through a pipe and calling it done. The process typically includes a video inspection to identify the nature and location of the blockage, hydro-jetting to clear debris thoroughly and safely, and a post-cleaning check to confirm that flow has been fully restored. That level of thoroughness matters because incomplete cleaning often leads to faster recurrence.

Professional service also means someone who knows Durham’s specific drainage landscape — the neighborhoods with aging clay pipes, the areas where tree roots are particularly aggressive, and the parts of the city where drainage grades create recurring problems. That local knowledge isn’t something you can replicate with a YouTube tutorial, and it genuinely affects outcomes.

Thinking About Cost the Right Way

We understand that the appeal of DIY is often about cost. And it’s true that for light, surface-level maintenance, doing it yourself saves money. But when a clog is significant or structural, a failed DIY attempt often means paying for professional service anyway — plus potentially dealing with the consequences of having pushed the problem further into your drainage system. In those cases, calling a professional from the start is almost always the more cost-effective path.

It’s also worth thinking about the cost of water damage. A storm drain that’s not functioning properly during a heavy Durham rain event can mean flooding in your yard, water intrusion near your foundation, or damage to your driveway and landscaping. Professional cleaning is far less expensive than remediation.

A Note for Durham Property Owners Specifically

Durham’s climate means significant rain throughout the year, and the city’s older neighborhoods often have drainage infrastructure that was designed decades ago for different conditions. If you’re in an area with mature trees, you’re dealing with root pressure that many newer communities simply don’t face. If you’re on a lot with any slope to it, drainage becomes even more important to manage proactively.

Drain Express works with homeowners, landlords, and commercial property managers throughout Durham, and we’re familiar with the drainage challenges that come with the territory here. If you’re not sure whether your situation calls for DIY or professional help, we’re happy to talk it through with you honestly.