Your gutters and your downspout work together to channel rain water away from your home’s foundation; but if the gutter isn’t covered, twigs, leaves and other debris may accumulate in both. Gutters are fairly easier to clean because they’re open. Downspouts, on the other hand, may be harder to unclog, particularly when there’s a buildup in the ‘joints’ or the points where they bend.
When your downspout gets backed up, rain water may overflow and pool in the soil surrounding your basement, causing flooding and foundation settling. To avoid this, your gutters and downspouts must be checked periodically, specifically during late winter, late spring and late fall, when they’re more likely to get clogged by snow or vegetation.
Use a plumbing snake in de-clogging your downspout to break down debris build-ups into smaller pieces. You can then flush down the debris using a garden hose with the spraying attachment on. Keep spraying until you no longer see any sign of debris. Finally, check the downspout for dents, holes, or cracks, and have them fixed right away.
To prevent the problem from occurring again, consider installing mesh-type gutter covers. These work by filtering out leaves and other debris from your gutters, significantly reducing the need for cleaning and de-clogging. It is one of the best protection from the elements that you can give your home.
GutterDome, Inc. 