A downspout pushes water from a rain gutter away from a structure. They connect from the gutters on the roof and run parallel to the exterior wall. All water from a roof is collected, then directed into the downspout.
If debris catches in the gutter, then it is directed into the downspout. If too much debris sticks, it can clog. This can cause the entire system to burst.
Noticed low flow from your gutters? Don’t risk a clogged downspout.
Follow these tips:
1. Confirm that your gutter is clear of debris.
Before going to the downspout, you need to prove there is not a single piece of residue left. If there are any blockages, it could be the reason you have low flow.
2. Check the size of the downspout’s origin
A downspout origin is the point where all rainwater goes into the downspout. Shoddy workmanship from a bad gutter installation team can result in small downspout origins.
If the downspout’s size is less than 2 inches, you may have problems. Even if you have a small piece of debris, the origin could get jammed. Making the hole bigger could allow for more to flow through. It could also increase the chances of pushing debris through the entire downspout.
3. Unmount the downspout
If you’ve done the first two steps and flow is still slow, unscrew a portion of the gutters. Once you’ve done this, you can look inside and assess the debris.
You should unscrew a piece of gutter close to the bottom of your house. That way, you can investigate the piece of piping that might be leading underground. It is crucial to keep the underground channels clear or else they could damage not only the system, but the house, foundation, and sewage drain system as well.
(Note: At this point, you could also hire a gutter repair team to snake the inside of the drain. We’d like to give you the tips to do this yourself first without spending the money on a repair team. Let’s try and make that the last possible option)
4. Clean out the downspout
If you are working with an above ground model, simply force any dirt and debris from the downspouts.
Tools You Can Use:
- Garden gloves to manually move dirt and debris with hands
- Small spade to dig into debris
- Hose with high pressure attachment to force out tough-to-reach dirt
If you are using a hose (and you should), point it up into the gutter so water will be spraying upwards. This will jostle debris loose.
If you are working with a below ground model, you need to excavate the end point. You will have to force the debris through and pull it out.
Tools You Can Use:
- Small garden clippers to reach into drains and cut debris apart
- Auger to fish out any hard clogs
- Hose with high pressure attachment to force out tough to reach dirt
5. Remount all the pieces and run liquid through the gutter
Do not run water just through the downspout. You need to make sure the your system has full functionality. With your pipe system remounted, you can look for any leak points and see if the mount was done correctly.
Make sure you can see flow coming out of the exit point of your gutter. If you see it, you have successfully cleared your downspouts.
If you still do not see it, contact a repair team. The San Antonio team at American Hill Country Gutters can give you a free consultation to help you get your downspout up to standards.
