Coping With Clogged Gutter Downspouts
Gutter downspouts can become clogged by all sorts of debris. Twigs, silt, leaves, catkins, and more can drop into the trough and get swept along the gutters creating a logjam. When a downspout becomes clogged, water doesn’t drain quickly and the gutters will overflow dumping water around the foundation of your home. Spouts that are completely clogged permit water to pool in the gutters providing an ideal environment for algae, mold, and mosquito larvae.
This scummy water can smell pretty bad, so be prepared when you climb up a ladder to check your gutters. Wear work gloves and bring a tool to scrape out as much debris as you can. A hand trowel works well. You can also pull twigs and leaves out of the top of the downspout with a pair of metal tongs.
Some people recommend using a wire hanger or a plumber’s snake to push debris down the spout. However, this can puncture the downspout if you aren’t careful. Use a hose with a high pressure spray head to wash clogged materials out of the length of the downspout. If that doesn’t work, you will have to disassemble the spout and remove the clog manually.
Keep It Draining
To prevent future clogs, cut tree branches well away from your roof. Consider installing a wider downspout that is less prone to obstruction. You may also use a guard, screen, leaf strainer, or filter to keep debris out of the spout opening. Some of these are installed at the top of the downspout. The DrainGuard is a little different since it puts a filter about halfway down the spout where it is easy to clean out. Whichever system you use, you will need to perform a full maintenance check every 6 months and a spot check after any significant storm event.
Related posts:
- Gutter System Protection – Realistic Expectations
- Gutter Downspout Drainage – Water Dispersal
- Decorative Gutter Downspouts – Rain Chains
- Gutter Maintenance Tips
- Home Gutter Repairs
Tags: Gutters
