Downspout Drainage Pipe

You can see Rachael's problem. Photo credit: Rachael Maloney

Rachael Maloney, who has a nice home in Cedar City, UT, has a perplexing problem with a downspout drain pipe. Let her tell you about it:

"We have a downspout  drain pipe that runs across our front sidewalk.

The problem I have is that the sidewalk is right up against the foundation of our garage.  The pipe sometimes comes undone from the aluminum downspout pipe.  This had resulted in the water running under our garage.

Is there an inexpensive way to install a pipe under the sidewalk? Is it something we could do, our would we have to pay someone to drill a hole in the sidewalk?"

Rachael, I think I have a better solution based on what I see in your photo.

The sidewalk ends just 16 inches or so down the other side of your garage. Why not bury schedule 40 PVC plumbing drain pipe that has great joints you can glue along the edge of sidewalk where it ends? Extend it out into the yard where it eventually might daylight.

Where the pipe hits the garage foundation use two 90-degree fittings to aim towards the foundation corner. You'll have pipe on top of the sidewalk but tucked against the foundation.

At the foundation corner, once again use two 90-degree fittings to make the turn and aim up to capture the vertical aluminum downspout. This will not look the best, but it's better than cutting into the sidewalk to install a pipe under it.

I would not glue all of the 90-degree fittings together in case you have to take apart the pipe to clear a clog. That many 90-degree angles that close to one another is a nightmare for drain-cleaning snakes.

Greg also had an issue with his downspout drain pipe. Read about his issue in the October 21, 2008 Newsletter.