Culvert Cleaning ?

["J"]

Anyone got any tips or tricks for cleaning out a plugged up culvert? I’ve got a shovels length cleaned out of one end, but the other has little access too (ditch along a hillside) get anything into it. Replacing it is an option, but it has a power line and fiber optic buried under/over it and not real enthusiastic about digging that one out.

 

[giles]

Rent a vacuum truck. Have them come suck it out. Search hydrovac

 

["J"]

Looked, don’t seem too be any close by. Did find one down below Charolette and sent them a message. We’ll see if they respond.

 

["J"]

I poked around on one of them, just before a big rain was too hit us. Got an entire shovel length outta of it and the rain did the rest. Haven’t been so lucky on the other 2.

 

[giles]

We use them alot. Pretty slick the way they work.

 

["J"]

Appears too be the way too go, if they travel. Hopefully it’s cost effective as well.

 

[giles]

Even if you use them to replace. They will expose that pipe in a couple of hours. No worries of damage or anything to any wires/cables.

 

["J"]

Hopefully they can just get them unplugged. But if they can’t, keeping that fiber optic intact would be worth it.

 

[giles]

Yup, as long as they aren't crushed from the farm equipment.

 

[Clay Showalter]

Easy get a length of conduit, cut hose and clamp it to one end, put a cap on the other end with a small hole. Pvc pipe also works

 

[xbowguy]

Is it mostly dirt and leaves J ?

 

["J"]

Is it mostly dirt and leaves J ?

Dirt and gravel. Mostly gravel.

 

["J"]

Easy get a length of conduit, cut hose and clamp it to one end, put a cap on the other end with a small hole. Pvc pipe also works

Using water, Clay?

 

[Chancegriffis]

Dirt and gravel. Mostly gravel.

Where are you located?

 

[Chancegriffis]

I work for southeastern equipment in the environment division. I can probably get ya a mobile vac unit. A lot cheaper than the truck itself. This itself goes on a 6x15 trailer and you can pull it with any vehicle

 

["J"]

I work for southeastern equipment in the environment division. I can probably get ya a mobile vac unit. A lot cheaper than the truck itself. This itself goes on a 6x15 trailer and you can pull it with any vehicle

Appreciate the offer, but I’m in NC west of Winston Salem.

 

[cspot]

The best time I have found to clean culverts is during a really big rain event. They heavy water flow will help take away the debris. Key is to find something that you can poke around in the culvert to get it loose.

Is the pipe completely clogged or just partial. Another trick is to block the lower end of the pipe and let the water build up on the upper end (assuming you can and there is some room to get enough head height. Then release it. This allows alot of water to flow thru the pipe with pressure. Again this needs to be done during a major rain event.

 

["J"]

The best time I have found to clean culverts is during a really big rain event. They heavy water flow will help take away the debris. Key is to find something that you can poke around in the culvert to get it loose.

Is the pipe completely clogged or just partial. Another trick is to block the lower end of the pipe and let the water build up on the upper end (assuming you can and there is some room to get enough head height. Then release it. This allows alot of water to flow thru the pipe with pressure. Again this needs to be done during a major rain event.

Completely plugged. The one that did unplug was a partial. You could see a little bit of daylight through it.

 

[Gern186]

What size is it? Diameter?

 

["J"]

16-18” x 20’ cement. No cave in from looking at the top of the drive going over it.