Each year, the leaves come down in Plano just as the fall rains pick up. At Clay Plano Drainage Company we clean, repair and build yard drains across Plano, and fall leaves clogging yard drains are among the simplest problems to prevent if you know where to look.
Why fall is a window, not a day
There is no single date. The window opens when the trees start shedding in earnest and closes after the last big leaf drop, and it lines up with the second rainy peak of the year.
On the long-term NOAA normals for Richardson, next to south Plano, October is the wettest month at 5.26 inches. So the yard is collecting leaves at the same time it is collecting some of the year’s heaviest rain.
Which parts of a drain clog first
Buried pipe is rarely where a leaf problem starts. Leaves block the places where a drain opens to the surface.
| Part | What leaves do to it | What you notice |
|---|---|---|
| Pop-up emitter | Wet leaves mat over the lid and hold it shut | Water backs up the line; a soggy patch near the downspout or basin |
| Catch basin grate | Leaves cover the slots, so water flows past instead of in | A puddle forms around the grate |
| Catch basin sump | Leaves that get through settle at the bottom | The basin holds water long after the storm |
| Channel drain | Leaves and grit pack the narrow slots | Water runs over the channel into the garage or patio |
| Gutters and downspouts | Leaves dam the gutter or jam the top of the downspout | Water pours over the gutter edge, beside the slab |
| Curb outlet | Leaves wash into the opening and pack it | The line slows, and the lawn near the curb stays wet |
| Swale | Leaf piles act like small dams | Water spreads across the side yard instead of running along it |
How to clear each one
None of this needs tools beyond a rake, gloves and a garden hose. Work from the top of the system down.
- Gutters first. Clear the gutters and the top of each downspout, so the roof water you are about to flush has somewhere to go.
- Grates and sumps. Lift each catch basin grate and scoop out leaves and silt from the sump below the outlet pipe.
- Channel drains. Lift the grate sections and clear the channel along its whole length.
- Emitters. Pull leaves off each pop-up emitter and press the lid to make sure it opens freely.
- Flush. Run a hose into each cleanout or basin and watch for a steady flow at the emitter or curb outlet.
- Swales and curb. Rake the swale clear and pull packed leaves out of any curb opening on your side.
Repeat the grate and emitter check before a forecast storm. One pass after the main leaf drop, plus a quick check before rain, keeps a working system open through the season.
Where the leaves can’t go
Raked leaves need somewhere to go, and the storm drain isn’t it. Plano makes it illegal to dump debris into ditches and channels, and it asks residents to keep drainage ditches on their own property free of debris and vegetation.
The same goes for the street. Leaves blown into the gutter wash into curb inlets and on toward the creeks, and Richardson’s city guidance asks residents to keep inlets and streets free of leaves. Bag them, compost them or mulch them into the lawn.
When a clean surface isn’t enough
If you have cleared everything above and a line still runs slow, the blockage has moved into the pipe or the pipe itself has a problem. Silt can build up over years, and roots can find their way into joints.
That is where drain repair and cleaning comes in. Our typical range for cleaning the first line is $250 to $600 per visit, covering snaking or jetting one existing line up to about 100 feet and a flow test. A camera inspection and any digging are priced separately.
Drains that clog every fall
A catch basin that fills with leaves every year may sit under a tree that will keep dropping into it. A different grate, a basin moved a few feet or a channel drain with narrower slots may help. We look at the layout on a visit before suggesting a change.
More on keeping drains working
The guide on how long a French drain lasts covers what wears a system out over time, and the catch basin cost guide explains what goes into a basin. For spring, see our spring storm yard drain checklist.
If a fall storm has shown you a drain that isn’t keeping up, call (469) 551-8518 or send photos through the form below.