A blocked gully can overflow when debris, silt or a downstream restriction prevents water leaving normally. We inspect the gully pot and its outlet before deciding whether local cleaning is enough or the connected drain also needs attention.
Blocked Gully
A blocked gully can overflow when debris, silt or a downstream restriction prevents water leaving normally.
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Normal trap water
A gully can retain water normally; overflow or a level that does not recover is the concern.
Downstream drainage
A clean gully can still overflow if the receiving pipe remains restricted.
Water seals and settled material
Many gullies retain water as part of their normal trap. Silt and other solids can settle below the outlet, so a gully may start flowing again while material remains in the pot. Removing surface leaves alone does not show that the outlet is clear.
Contact us about a blocked gully
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What the gully is connected to
An outside gully may receive rainwater, kitchen discharge or other waste. Grease from a kitchen connection needs a different response from grit and leaves in a rainwater gully. We distinguish the local deposit from a restriction further downstream.
Removing silt rather than moving it
Silt taken from the gully should not simply be washed into the connected pipe, where it can form another obstruction. If the gully quickly fills again after cleaning, the next step is to investigate the receiving drain.
Blocked Gully: common questions
Is water in a gully always a blockage?
No. Many gullies hold a normal water seal. Overflow or a level that does not recover indicates a problem.
Why can a gully still overflow after leaves are removed?
Silt may remain in the pot or the downstream pipe may still be restricted.
Can a kitchen gully contain grease?
Yes. Kitchen discharge can carry fats into the gully and connected drain.
Why should gully silt be removed rather than flushed downstream?
Washing it into the receiving pipe can move the restriction instead of removing it.
Why does it matter what the gully receives?
Kitchen discharge can leave grease, while rainwater gullies more often collect grit, leaves and silt. The deposit affects how the gully and connected drain are cleaned.