Storm Drain Maintenance Before Winter Storms: Practical Property Care

Storm drains handle large amounts of rain and snowmelt, but fall and winter bring problems that can overwhelm a system that hasn’t been maintained.

Decaying Leaves and Compacted Road Debris

Trees drop their leaves across driveways, parking spaces, and curbs in late fall. Rain washes wet leaves onto surface grates, where they form a thick mat that keeps water from dropping into the catch basin. Silt, rotting leaves, and gravel that get past the grate settle into the basin sump. During heavy storms, that sediment washes into the outlet pipe, narrowing it and catching more debris until the pipe is completely blocked.

Standing Water and Freeze-Thaw Traps

Catch basins have a sump that sits below the outlet pipe to trap heavy solids, so some standing water in the bottom of a catch basin is normal. But if sludge fills the sump up past the bottom of the outlet pipe, runoff stays trapped in the basin between storms. When temperatures drop below freezing, that water turns to ice. A frozen catch basin can’t take in new snowmelt, and expanding ice can crack the basin walls and loosen joints over time.

Steps to Prepare Storm Drains Ahead of Cold Temperatures

Good winter storm drain cleaning looks past the surface grate to make sure the underground pipes are clear and in good shape.

Surface Cleaning and Catch Basin Sump Cleanout

Start by clearing branches, leaves, and trash off every surface grate. Then lift the grate and look inside the basin for built-up silt, cracked walls, and water sitting above the outlet pipe. Grates are heavy, so lift with your legs and wear gloves. Never climb into a basin, and put the grate back right away. Leave deep or commercial basins to a professional.

Removing sediment from the bottom of the basin gives it room to catch the grit and road salt that wash in over the winter. Water sitting above the outlet pipe during dry weather points to a blockage downstream that needs mechanical removal.

Hydro Jetting and CCTV Pipe Inspections

Underground storm pipes often have buildup that surface tools can’t reach. During a CCTV pipe inspection, a technician runs a camera down the storm line to look for tree roots, crushed sections, and heavy sludge. Crushed or cracked sections may need repair before cleaning. If the pipe is sound, hydro jetting comes next, sending high-pressure water through the line to flush out leaves, silt, and compacted dirt. Clearing the lines helps runoff reach the municipal storm connection instead of backing up toward your home or building.

Avoiding Cold-Weather Flooding on Your Property

Winter backups do more damage because frozen ground can’t absorb pooling water.

Preventing Pavement Damage and Frost Heaves

When water can’t get into a storm drain, it pools across asphalt lots, concrete aprons, and sidewalks. The water seeps into small cracks in the pavement, then freezes overnight. As it freezes, it expands and pushes the pavement up, causing frost heaves, potholes, and black ice. Storm drain maintenance before winter storms helps protect your pavement and reduces slip hazards for visitors, tenants, and staff.