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tips for clearing a clogged downspout?

Z

zixxer

Diamond Member
One of the downspouts on my house is clogged near the top - and it's too high to reach with any ladder I have (it's probably ~30ft up)

I tried running a hose up the down spout and turning it on but it won't go high enough before hitting a bend - I think its clogged near the top because when it rains water goes all the the side of the house/window.. if it was clogged lower the water would push out the clog
 
You have to get up there. It's probably clogged right at the top, espeically if there's a bend right up next to the downspout opening.
 
That Gutter Blaster is good for gutter cleaning but it won't clear a clogged downspout if the clog is in the bend. The debris in there is too dense and the water would just bounce off.

OP, think about something to take up there with you to clear out the clog with. First clean out as much of the crap as you can by hand. To break up the clog, I've had good luck with a piece of coax cable - something thick to punch through the clog but flexible enough to go around the bend.

Eventually the clog will break up and fall down your downspout. Use a hose to flush it out of your downspout so you can make sure it won't form a new clog somewhere else.

Don't lean your ladder against the gutter or it might cave in your gutter.
 
arg what a pain. I wish my roof is walkable.




There might be a way I can get to it from my front porch.. I dunno. bleh. It's pouring now - gotta wait till it's dry.
 
Originally posted by: kranky
That Gutter Blaster is good for gutter cleaning but it won't clear a clogged downspout if the clog is in the bend. The debris in there is too dense and the water would just bounce off.

OP, think about something to take up there with you to clear out the clog with. First clean out as much of the crap as you can by hand. To break up the clog, I've had good luck with a piece of coax cable - something thick to punch through the clog but flexible enough to go around the bend.

Eventually the clog will break up and fall down your downspout. Use a hose to flush it out of your downspout so you can make sure it won't form a new clog somewhere else.

Don't lean your ladder against the gutter or it might cave in your gutter.
Click to expand...
I second kranky motion.

It is likely that the clog is at the top of the bend, and will require to be physically removed. Remove the screws that hold the down spout bend to clean if the debris made it inside the down spout, and use a ladder and ladder stay/roof ladder adaptor to protect the gutter. Another method is to use a small wire/snake & run it up the down spout (too large of a head will damage the DS if it get caught by a screw in the DS).

 
Originally posted by: zixxer
arg what a pain. I wish my roof is walkable.




There might be a way I can get to it from my front porch.. I dunno. bleh. It's pouring now - gotta wait till it's dry.
Click to expand...

Why can't you walk on the roof? Even the most fragile roofing can be walked on if you go about it the right way. Except for Cal Shake, and if you have one of those you need a new roof anyway.
 
Steep pitch metal is technically walkable, if you are spiderman. Many roofs are too steep to take a safe walk across.
 
Originally posted by: Greenman
Originally posted by: zixxer
arg what a pain. I wish my roof is walkable.




There might be a way I can get to it from my front porch.. I dunno. bleh. It's pouring now - gotta wait till it's dry.
Click to expand...

Why can't you walk on the roof? Even the most fragile roofing can be walked on if you go about it the right way. Except for Cal Shake, and if you have one of those you need a new roof anyway.
Click to expand...
it could be that he have very steep pitch like mine at 4:3 pitch which is impossible to walk on.
 
Originally posted by: Greenman
Originally posted by: zixxer
arg what a pain. I wish my roof is walkable.




There might be a way I can get to it from my front porch.. I dunno. bleh. It's pouring now - gotta wait till it's dry.
Click to expand...

Why can't you walk on the roof? Even the most fragile roofing can be walked on if you go about it the right way. Except for Cal Shake, and if you have one of those you need a new roof anyway.
Click to expand...

It's way way too steep.

also aggravating is that I went and bought an attic vent fan, and need to either put braces on or something to get up there to install it. not worth it for the clogged gutter though
 
They make these in a couple of different sizes. Drain King They have a bladder in them that expands to make a stopper in the pipe, then pressure up against the clog. Obviously, in your case, it would be better if you could get to the top of the drainspout...but then again, if you can do that, you might be ab le to see what's causing the clog anyway...
 
30 feet? I'd sh*t my pants if I was 30' up on a ladder! You sure it's not more like 20'? That's even pretty high, but doable. It's probably clogged right at the drop into the downspout. I'll bet there's a downspout strainer in place, that's clogged with debris. A high pressure nozzle at the end of a pole may be able to dislodge it. Best to have a go at it while it's still moist and loose.
 
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