Tom sighed. He called a drainage company. They quoted £800. Tom choked on his tea.

Before we dive into the clearing process, it's essential to understand how a soakaway system works. A soakaway is a pit or trench filled with aggregate material (such as gravel or stones) that allows rainwater to percolate into the ground. The system typically consists of a collection pipe that directs rainwater into the soakaway.

“The stone is capped,” Tom said. “Water can’t get through.”

Lesson one: Always check the easy bit first. Half the time, the blockage is right at the entrance.

Tom didn’t own a pressure washer. Instead, he used a and a stiff rubber cone to seal the pipe entrance. He turned the water on full.

But the soakaway itself was still full. The water level didn’t drop.

Tom followed the downpipe from his gutter to the ground. There, hidden under a plastic grate, was the pipe leading underground.

To prevent future blockages, consider the following:

He replaced the concrete lid, buried the inspection cover, and reattached the downpipe grate. That night, rain hammered down. Tom watched from the window. The puddle didn’t form. The water vanished into the earth.