My Foot Got Stuck in the Gutter Again
Clogged Downspout: How to Unclog a Gutter Downspout
The falling leaves sure are beautiful, but they can wreak havoc on your gutters and downspouts. If you procrastinated gutter cleaning, you may now have a clogged downspout on your hands. Don't fret – with these tips from Mr. Handyman, you'll learn how to clean out downspouts in no time.
Be Cautious
Before you begin, realize that this project may require you to climb onto the roof. To ensure your safety, take these precautions:
- If possible, get help from another person to hold the ladder steady and to turn water on.
- Select a sturdy, extension ladder to reach the top opening on high roofs.
- Wear thick suede gloves to protect your hands and work goggles to protect your eyes.
- If possible, clean from the ladder – and don't step on the roof.
- Wait for mild weather conditions to clean the downspouts.
- If you don't have experience working on ladders, or you're not comfortable with heights, hire a professional gutter cleaning service to tackle the job.
Clean the Bottom Downspout Opening
Remove the downspout extension, if present, to expose the bottom opening. This is especially important if the downspout is connected to an underground drain. Otherwise, trying to remove the clog may simply push it further down.
With your gloves on, insert a garden trowel into the downspout and remove any leaves or debris you can reach. Rinse the downspout extension with water from a garden hose to dislodge debris caught here as well.
Rinse the Downspout from the Top Opening
If you haven't cleaned your gutters yet, do this first, finishing with unclogging the downspout.
Climb a sturdy ladder with the end of a garden hose in one hand. When you reach the top opening of the downspout, ask a helper down below to turn on the water. If water flows out of the bottom carrying leaf debris with it, your job is complete. However, if water backs up into the gutter, a clog is present in the downspout, and you must remove it.
Tips on How to Unclog a Gutter Downspout
Follow these suggestions to unclog your downspout, starting with the easiest options first:
- Tap the side of the downspout: Walk down the ladder one rung at a time, gently knocking on the side of the downspout as you go. Then, climb back up and try rinsing the downspout with your garden hose again.
- Create a seal: Pack a small towel into the top of the downspout, and then insert the garden hose. Ask your helper to turn on the water. The seal you created may be enough to force the blockage out of the bottom opening.
- Use a handheld auger: Wearing gloves and eye protection, feed the auger into the top or bottom downspout opening and turn the drum clockwise. Once it's all the way through, pull the cable back. You may need to do this several times to remove the clog completely.
- Use a power tool: Insert the end of a leaf blower, power washer, or wet/dry vac into the top of the downspout opening. These powerful tools should be able to dislodge stubborn debris.
Get Help Cleaning Your Downspouts
Even with these tips in mind, cleaning your gutters and downspouts is still a chore you likely dread each fall. Don't go it alone, especially if you lack the time or physical ability to clean the gutters safely by yourself. Instead, trust Mr. Handyman for the job. Our professional gutter cleaning service removes this chore for your fall to-do list.
If you need help with other yard cleanup tasks before winter comes, count on The Grounds Guys®. Then, contact Mr. Handyman for gutter cleaning and other exterior home services.
Source: https://www.mrhandyman.com/blog/2018/september/clogged-downspout-how-to-unclog-a-gutter-downspo/
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