Clog In The Elbow Of The Gutter

If you see water backing up you have a clog.

Clog in the elbow of the gutter.

To unclog a gutter downspout try your easiest options first. Water doesn t flow out the bottom of downspout extensions. Water spills over the edges of a gutter. Remove the downspout from a connecting drain place a garden hose inside the downspout and turn the water on.

Remove the downspout extension if present to expose the bottom opening. This is especially important if the downspout is connected to an underground drain. Once you ve located the source of the clog don a pair of rubber gloves and carefully fish it out with your hands. 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.

When it rains here are the telltale signs of a clogged gutter. Otherwise trying to remove the clog may simply push it further down. If you wait until spring or summer the downspouts elbows and drop outlets are usually already clogged. Step 2 take apart your gutter downspout if spraying the clog with your hose proves unsuccessful use a screwdriver to take apart your downspout at the bends.

Many people wait until the spring but it s much better to clean out the leaves prior to all the winter snow melt and spring rains. Late autumn or early winter or whenever the trees are bare is the right time to clean out your gutters. With your gloves on insert a garden trowel into the downspout and remove any leaves or debris you can reach.