Winter Prep3 min read
How to Spot a Clogged Downspout Before the First Snow
A clogged downspout shows up as overflow at one corner, a dry outlet during rain, or a gurgling sound. Here’s how to find and clear the clog before snow turns it to ice.
The quickest way to spot a clogged downspout is to watch it during rain or a hose test. If water spills over the gutter near the downspout while the outlet at the bottom stays dry or only trickles, the downspout is blocked. Find it before snow arrives, because a clogged downspout fills with water, freezes solid, and can split the seams or pull the downspout off the wall.
Signs of a clogged downspout
- Water overflowing at one corner of the gutter, near the drop outlet
- Little or no water coming out the bottom during rain
- Gurgling or bubbling sounds from the downspout
- A dented or bulging section of downspout, often from frozen water the previous winter
- Soil erosion or puddles at a spot along the wall where water is spilling instead of draining
- Plants or moss growing out of the top of the outlet
The hose test
On a dry day, run a garden hose into the gutter about ten feet from the downspout. Watch where the water goes. Clear flow means it’s working. If water backs up into the gutter, the clog is near the top, usually at the outlet or the first elbow. If water goes in but comes out slowly, the clog is lower, usually at the bottom elbow or in an underground drain line.
Where clogs usually hide
Most downspout clogs form at the elbows. The top elbow, where the downspout bends back toward the wall, catches leaves and needles that slide in from the gutter. The bottom elbow, where it turns out toward the yard, collects grit and roof granules. If your downspout connects to an underground drain pipe, that pipe can also clog with roots or silt.
How to clear it
- Start at the top. Pull out whatever you can reach at the gutter outlet by hand.
- Run the hose down the downspout at full pressure.
- If that doesn’t work, tap along the downspout to find the clog by sound. A full section sounds dull.
- For a stubborn clog at an elbow, unscrew the elbow, clean it out, and reattach it.
- For underground drains, a plumber’s snake or a hose with a jet nozzle fed from the outlet end can clear it.
Why winter makes it worse
In Reno, Sparks, and Carson City, winter brings repeated freeze-thaw cycles. Snow melts on the roof during the day, runs into the gutter, and drains down the downspout. If the downspout is partly clogged, water backs up and freezes overnight. The next day, more melt runs on top of the ice. After a few cycles, the downspout is a column of ice, the gutter is full of ice, and the weight starts pulling hangers loose.
Splits from ice are common in older sectional downspouts. Once a seam splits, water runs down the wall instead of through the pipe, staining stucco and soaking the foundation.
Prevent it next time
Larger downspouts help. Many homes have standard 2x3 inch downspouts, which clog easily. Upgrading to 3x4 inch downspouts moves more water and leaves more room for debris to pass through. Leaf guards on the gutters also keep most debris out of the downspouts in the first place.
If you’ve got a downspout that keeps clogging, or one that’s cracked or bent, our crew can repair or replace it. Call Battle Born Gutters at (775) 414-4526 or request a free estimate.