How to Unclog a Gutter

To avoid damage to your foundation, gutters, landscaping, and home’s exterior, unclog a blocked rain gutter as soon as you can.

Gutter cleaning should be done at least twice a year. Otherwise, leaves and other debris might block your gutter system and endanger your home, landscape, and even the gutters itself. Here’s how to spot a blocked gutter and clear it.

Do I Have a Blocked Gutter?

Here are the clear signs of a blocked gutter during rain:

A gutter’s edges are dripping with water.
From gutter elbow joints and seams, water pours like a fountain.
Downspout extensions don’t have a bottom where water may escape.

If it’s not raining, keep an eye out for these warning signs:

Earth that has been eroded beneath a gutter.
Siding and fascia paint that is peeling.
siding that is soiled, damp, or wet beneath the gutter.
Gutter separation from the fascia (likely caused by excessive weight).

Where’s the Gutter Clogged?

Where the downspout meets the gutter is where the downspout cage, a wire strainer intended to catch debris while allowing water to flow through, is situated. This object is frequently deformed or misaligned.

Frequently, gutter hangers and spikes come loose from the fascia and fall into the gutter. Clogs are caused by these obstructions catching leaves and twigs.

Clogs are also prone to form around downspout elbows and seams. Tap the downspout’s exterior with a screwdriver as you descend from the gutter and listen for a dull thump (as opposed to hollow ring). This will show where the blockage is located.

If the clog hasn’t been located yet and your downspouts dip below ground level, it’s most likely in an underground pipe.

If the downspout cage has a clog:

Clean it by removing it.
Take out all of the collected gutter debris.
Reinstall the cage into the downspout hole firmly if it is in excellent condition.
In the event that the cage is damaged or missing, new screens are inexpensive.

If loose hangers or spikes are the root of the clog:

Clear blockages of debris.
The gutter supports should be adjusted or repaired.

If you can access the blockage from above and it is at an elbow or seam:

Try using a stick, a plumbing snake, or a pressure washer with a telescopic wand to clear the clog.
If you can’t get to it, just unscrew the downspout and clear the obstruction.

The most challenging clogs to remove are those that are below grade and may need to be excavated. But before that

Remove the downspout from where it enters the ground and use a plumbing snake to try to unclog the obstruction.
A garden hose should be turned on and pushed into the underground section of the line; the pressure of the water may help to clear the blockage.