It’s important to keep your gutters clean to prevent them from clogging. Elbows in downspouts are the worst culprits, and the flexible metal cable of a plumber’s snake is the best way to clean them out. Here’s how to do it:
- Insert the end of the plumber’s snake in the downspout until it meets resistance.
- Turn the crank and work it back and forth to loosen the clog.
- Insert a garden hose in the downspout and turn on the water to flush out any debris.
Further Information
- Gutter Maintenance Tips (video)
- How to Clean and Repair Gutters (article)
- Cleaning Gutters and Downspouts (video)
Very good advice. With leaves all over the roof during this time of the year, this is a perfect time to inspect your gutters and as you say elbows section of your guttering system.
Thanks, Mike, and you’re right. Late-autumn or early-winter (or whenever the trees are bare) is the right time to clean out your gutters. Many people wait until the spring, but it’s much better to clean out the leaves prior to all the winter snow melt and spring rains. If you wait until spring or summer, the downspouts, elbows and drop outlets are usually already clogged.
Hi what if the down sprout leads into the basement into a trap (not sure if that’s the word) and not outside How can u flush it out with a garden hose? Thank you. Please advice.
Hi, Anna,
Here’s Today’s Homeowner TV host Danny Lipford’s answer to your question: https://todayshomeowner.com/ask-danny-how-to-flush-out-downspout-debris/
Thanks for writing to us!
Hello, how do I clean the little gutter on my aluminum patio cover. Thank you