Hundreds of homeowners every year call gutter companies when the rains begin, worried about leaking gutters or gutters overflowing in heavy rain. Many of these problems are the consequences of clogged gutters. When rain gutters get clogged, the water can´t drain properly, and it will spill over the gutters, which can lead to a variety of problems that can be serious and expensive such as foundation or siding damage.
In this post, we are outlining the most common reasons leading to clogged gutter systems, some tips to recognize your clogged rain gutters and how to deal with them to ensure effective water guttering.
What are the reasons for clogged gutters?
There is nothing hidden behind fully functional gutters all year round. Poor gutter maintenance through regular gutter cleaning is the main reason that causes the debris to stay in the gutter, and the gutters to clog, showing the different signs.
The lack of gutter cleaning or gutter protection not only can lead to debris in the gutter but also animals and even plants. This can affect the gutter itself, but also the downspouts as the debris are dragged into the downspouts, blocking them. In many cases, can even clog the underground drains.
Other reasons that can lead to clogged rain gutters are the incorrect slope in the downspouts that avoids the water to drain properly, or even having ice dams in your gutters.
Signs of clogged gutters
There are different signs that help us identify when our gutters are clogged. Some of them are listed below:
- Debris in the face of the gutters
- Debris coming from downspouts joints (Which means downspout or underground drain clogged)
- Signs of ground erosion below the gutter
- Sagging gutters, due to the weight of the debris, but mainly in the older gutters that are attached with nails.
- Water overflowing in different spots
- Downspout has mold in the joints
- Plants or animal beds in the gutter
- Water in the outlet. This sign means that the underground drain is blocked unless there is an elbow in the drainpipe. In that case, could be both, but most probably will be the elbow if it has debris or dirt coming from the joints. Many times the pressure is so big that the downspout can split in the back.
How to unclog a gutter downspout
Clean your gutters once or twice a year before fall season or before and after, depending on the amount and type of trees surrounding the house.
In case the downspouts are clogged, if possible, take the downspout apart, clear off the pipe, and put them back. This is the best way to clean drainpipes if they are attached with screws. In case they are attached with nails, you can do as follows.
- Before rinsing, knock on the side of the downspout as you go down the ladder.
- Insert the end of a power tool until it meets resistance. Turn the crank and work it back and forth to loosen the clog.
- Insert a garden hose into the clogged gutter downspout and turn on the water.
- If the problem is the underground drain, then the issue should be resolved by a plumber, so do not hesitate to call your plumbing company.
- Finally, if you want to avoid conventional gutter cleaning while keeping your gutters and downspouts unclogged, you can always protect your gutters with a gutter guard or your downspouts with cleanouts to avoid drains to clog.
There can be many causes of why your water gutter does not work properly. Taking the right action for a clog-free gutter avoids further damage to your house and ultimately can save you a lot of money. Regular gutter cleaning protects your house from the damage caused by runoff water.
It might not be your favorite thing to do but think of all the costs you can spare if you make this a part of your general clean-up routine.
