There is a solution to prevent pipes from becoming blocked

Rainwater down pipes take the roof water from the guttering into the drainage network beneath the ground. These pipes are typically quite narrow and can become blocked with leaves, pine needles and roof moss. On other pages of this site you can find information on how to remove roof moss and also on how to choose the best gutter guard product.

The products below specifically prevent blockages in the pipes

Downpipe guard

Placing a cage or net over the top of the pipe will prevent blockages by all of the usual culprits, including moss, leaves, twigs and general dirt/sludge.

It should be noted that while this product prevents such debris from entering the pipe, you may notice that it becomes clogged and requires a clean out every now and then.

The purpose of this product is to prevent blockages further down the pipe which can be expensive to fix. Unclogging this product is much easier (and cheaper) than dismantling a pipe or flushing an underground drain.

This product can be purchased from Amazon here

Inline filter

The inline filter works by allowing rainwater to pass through while catching smaller parts. It is very easy to empty out the product as it can fitted at waist height so there is no need for you to climb a ladder. The product can also be used to divert filtered water to a water storage device such as a butt or tank

Important notes:

Because this product is fitted close to ground level it will not prevent blockages near the top of the pipe or in the gutter.

This product is solely used to prevent expensive blockages in the underground drain and to filter the water prior to storage in a tank.

Drainsmart ground level filter

Product to prevent downpip blockagesThis product is very similar to the inline filter, the only difference being it is slightly larger, holds more volume and is located at ground level. It is also easier to install and clear out.

All you need to do is cut the existing pipe at ground level and connect the Drainsmart. All rainwater passes through the product before entering the drain. The multi stage filtration will catch most debris which can easily be cleared out.

Like the above product this only works at preventing debris from entering the underground system, it does nothing to prevent blockages further up the pipe or in the gutter.

Further reading

Moss Killer Chemicals
Do Roof Coatings Really Work?
The Truth About Gutter Guards