Cleaning Out Gutters And Downspouts

Have a helper turn on the water and check for downspout flow.

Cleaning out gutters and downspouts.

If you have a short piece of downspout running into an underground tiling system only remove that short piece. This will help keep your hands dry while. Insert a garden hose in the downspout and turn on the water to flush out any debris. Wear safety glasses to keep bits of dried leaves and other debris out of your eyes.

Clean the downspouts. Start cleaning at one of the downspouts and work toward the other end of the gutter. If you need to replace them learn more about what it takes to install new gutters. Once you ve removed the debris from the gutters use a garden hose to flush the gutters and downspouts and clear out any remaining debris.

To clean your gutters put on your work gloves and grab a 5 gallon bucket with a handle. If your downspout is one solid piece take off the bands to remove it the downspout should slide out then flush it out with a hose and reattach. Remove the downspout extension if present to expose the bottom opening. Flush out your downspout.

If desired you can use a small garden trowel or even a toilet brush to help scoop gunk out of the gutters but usually your hands work just as well or better. Put on the rubber gloves under your work gloves if the debris is damp. To unclog a gutter downspout try your easiest options first. Using a drain cleaning tool like a toilet drain auger or snake to clear the clog the same way you would a shower or toilet.

If your downspouts have horizontal extension pipes remove these to clear the downspouts. Place your ladder squarely on a level ground before you climb it. Start by cleaning the bottom downspout opening. Expose the bottom downspout opening divert the flow away from any landscape drain and then use a garden trowel to reach up into the opening and remove any clogged leaves and debris that could have accumulated there.

Begin cleaning near a downspout. Before you begin realize that this project may require you to climb onto the roof. Take a hose and place it into the downspout from the top opening where the gutters feed into it. Once the roof gutters are cleared of debris make sure the downspouts are cleared.

Pushing the hose through the bottom of the downspout and turn it on the highest pressure to clear out any blockages. This will also show you if you have any leaks.