How to Inspect and Clean Your Rain Gutters and Downspouts 

Knowing how to clean gutters and downspouts is essential. Gutters move water away from your roof, protecting your home from potential damage, including foundation damage and basement floods. Over time, leaves, dirt, and debris can clog gutters, causing dams that result in water backing up, overflowing, and potentially damaging your home or foundation. The risk of damage increases in the winter, when debris and backed-up water freeze into ice dams that weigh down gutters to the point they pull away from the roof, but the potential for property damage exists at any time of year. 

Many homeowners overlook the need to clean gutters (or put it off because gutter cleaning is a messy task). Let’s look at how to clean rain gutters and downspouts, the tools needed to clean out gutters, and when to leave the task to a professional. 

Gutters and Downspout Inspection Schedule

Make regular gutter inspections part of your annual household maintenance. We recommend checking rain gutters and downspouts at least twice a year, in the spring to remove debris that builds up over the winter, and again in the fall to remove dead leaves, twigs, bird nests, and other items that accumulated over the summer. In addition, check your guttering system for ice dams after severe winter weather.

How to Check if Downspouts are Clogged

Signs of a downspout blockage include water leaking from the downspout seam, overflowing gutters, and a lack of water movement through the downspout after rain or water pooling near your home. The simplest way to check a downspout for blockages is to pour water into the gutters and see if it flows out the downspout. 

Tools and Materials You’ll Need

Tools to clean out gutters include: 

• Ladder
• Gloves
• Trowel or gutter scoop
• Hose
• Bucket

What to Check When Inspecting Your Gutters and Downspouts

• Visual evidence of debris or ice dams. Debris can include litter, leaves, plants, twigs, dirt, pine needles, roofing materials, and animal, bird, or insect nests. 
• Cracks, dents, holes, rust, or other damage to rain gutters and downspouts.
• Leaks or damage at seams, corners, and end caps.
• Ensure gutters are securely attached to the fascia. Sagging gutters can indicate damage to the gutter itself or the gutter’s hangers and brackets. 
• Water overflowing the gutter edges or pooling close to downspouts indicates possible blockages.

How to Clean Your Gutters and Downspouts

Safely Access Your Gutters

You’ll need to use a ladder to access your rain gutters. Place the ladder securely against the home and only climb high enough to reach the gutters comfortably. Do not attempt this alone. Have someone hold the ladder to provide more stability. If you are uncomfortable working on a ladder, it’s best to leave gutter cleaning to a professional service.

Can You Clean Gutters Without Using a Ladder?

Devices such as gutter vacuums, gutter-cleaning leaf blower attachments, and telescoping gutter cleaning wands provide an alternative to a ladder. Using such cleaning devices, however, means you can’t visually inspect the inside of your gutters, increasing the risk of missing damage or overlooking hard-to-remove debris. 

Remove Large Debris

Wearing gloves, remove larger debris. Handle sharp stems and other foliage carefully, and do not apply excessive force when pulling on debris, as doing so can leave you off-balance and increase the risk of falls. 

Be careful with animal nests. An occupied nest may expose you to protective or angry critters. If the blockage is due to a wasp nest or any other type of stinging insect, do not try to remove the nest yourself; contact a pest control service. 

Remove Smaller Debris

After removing large debris, you’ll need your bucket. Collect the fine and settled debris with your trowel or gutter scoop and dump it into the bucket. Do not fill the bucket until it becomes too heavy for you to carry safely while on the ladder. Have a friend grab the bucket from you once you are done.

Hose It Out 

Finally, use the hose to clean any remaining dirt. Don’t forget to run the water through your downspouts to ensure they are clear, too!

Pro Tips for Gutter Maintenance

• Stick to a regular cleaning schedule. Regular gutter cleanings help prevent debris from building up. 
• Check your gutters’ slope. Gutters usually have a slope of ¼ inch per 10 feet. 
• Install gutter guards to prevent debris from entering gutters. 
• Trim branches that hang over roofs and gutters.
• Only use ladders with assistance.

When to Call a Professional

Rain gutter and downspout cleaning is messy; you may prefer to leave it to professionals. Professional gutter cleaning technicians have the equipment, protective gear, and skills to complete the job quickly and efficiently. They’re trained to use ladders safely and have the experience to spot minor issues early, helping prevent everything from fascia rot to basement flooding. 

Gutters are an integral part of your outdoor plumbing system. Call the Roto-Rooter professionals today, and we’ll help you keep your gutters clean and well-maintained!