Downpipe Repair, Unblocking & Replacement in Perth

The Role of Downpipes in Protecting Your Perth Home

Downpipes are the vertical pipes that carry rainwater from your gutters down to ground level and into the stormwater drainage system. While they may appear to be simple pipes, they are an essential part of your home’s water management. Without properly functioning downpipes, rainwater that your gutters collect has nowhere to go — it overflows, saturates the soil around your foundations, and can cause significant damage to your property.

In Perth, where winter rainfall can be intense and concentrated over short periods, a single blocked or broken downpipe can result in hundreds of litres of water being dumped against your walls and footings during a single storm event. On Perth’s sandy soils, this concentrated water flow erodes the ground around foundations and can contribute to subsidence over time.

Common Downpipe Problems in Perth

Our team regularly encounters the following downpipe issues across Perth suburbs:

• Blockages — Leaves, twigs, tennis balls, bird nests, and accumulated sediment are the most common causes of blocked downpipes. Suburbs with mature trees such as Dalkeith, Nedlands, Claremont, and the hills suburbs are particularly affected.
• Cracks and splits — PVC downpipes become brittle with UV exposure over time and can crack. Older galvanised steel downpipes develop rust holes that allow water to escape mid-pipe and run down walls.
• Disconnection from stormwater — Over time, ground movement or garden renovation work can separate the base of the downpipe from the underground stormwater drain. Water then pools at the base of the wall instead of being carried away.
• Insufficient sizing — Some older Perth homes have downpipes that are undersized for the roof area they serve, leading to overflow during heavy rain events even when the pipes are clear.
• Crushed or dented pipes — Physical damage from ladders, garden equipment, or vehicle impact can restrict flow.

Downpipe Unblocking and Flushing

When a downpipe is blocked, we use a combination of techniques to clear the obstruction and restore full flow:

1. Gutter outlet inspection — We check the gutter outlet and sumps for debris accumulation that may be feeding the blockage.
2. Top-down rodding — A flexible drain rod or plumber’s snake is fed down the pipe to break through the blockage.
3. High-pressure flushing — We flush the pipe with water to clear remaining debris and confirm unobstructed flow through the entire length.
4. Stormwater connection check — We verify that water is flowing freely into the underground stormwater system and not pooling at the pipe base.

Downpipe Replacement

When a downpipe is cracked, rusted through, or undersized, replacement is the most effective solution. We offer replacement in both round and square profiles using:

• Colorbond — Available in all standard colours to match your existing gutters, fascia, and trim. Colorbond downpipes resist corrosion and maintain their appearance for decades in Perth conditions.
• PVC — A cost-effective option for concealed or less visible locations, though less durable than metal in Perth’s UV environment.
• Zincalume — An economical metal option when colour matching is not a priority.

Every replacement downpipe is installed with:

• Correct bracket spacing for secure attachment to the wall
• Proper fall angle to ensure gravity-fed water flow
• Secure pop-riveted connections at all joins
• Proper connection to the stormwater system at ground level

Reconnection to Stormwater Drainage

A downpipe that simply discharges onto the ground surface is not completing its job. We reconnect downpipes to your underground stormwater system to ensure water is carried away from your home entirely. Where stormwater drains are damaged or absent, we can install new PVC drainage lines to a soakwell or connect to the council stormwater system (where permitted).

Book Your Downpipe Service

Whether you need a quick unblock or a complete downpipe replacement, our team services the entire Perth metro area. Contact us for a free assessment and quote. No call-out fee applies.