Advice on How to Properly Clean Your Downspouts
A downspout is a vertical pipe which is attached to the end of gutters. This is sometimes referred to as a leader as it takes rainwater from gutters to the floor. The water could be collected within a rain barrel, sent to a sewer, or simply left on the ground. According to most home improvement professionals, downspout and gutter cleaning is a vital part of home care. Cleaning them can be done using a garden hose, plumbing snake, or even manually. Some tips to include cleaning gutters in the fall, once all the leaves have fallen, and in the spring to prepare for rain using a garden hose to remove small blockages and using a screen or strainer to stop clogs.
Maintaining downspouts and performing gutter cleaning keeps a house clean and tidy and prevents some expensive repairs. Downspouts are made to remove water away from a house. Should they not be clear, the water will eventually back up. Since the water is unable to flow down the downspout, it will build up within the gutters and spill over the sides. Over time, this will create problems, including rotting wood, water, and foundation damage.
Downspouts and gutters need to be cleaned a minimum of once a year; however, most experts agree it should be done at least twice a year. A cleaning in late fall, after the leaves have fallen, will stop clogs. This removes dead leaves which have fallen and other debris. Some homeowners clean them in the spring or the early summer. This will lessen the work in the fall and catch blockages early enough to avoid damage.
Once gutters have been cleared, cleaning the downspouts is next. Finding out if a downspout is blocked can be done using a simple garden hose. When the hose is placed into the downspout and switched on, the water should exit the bottom. If this doesn’t happen or if it comes out at a trickle, this is an indication it is severely blocked.
Call Window Cleaning By Lane's, based in Greensboro, NC.
(336) 793-1787.