How to remove a gutter clog

Seattle, WA home with clogged gutter. Downspout was had blockage about 3 feet down downspout. Garden hose water freed the clog.

Gutter clogs are a frequent issue for many Puget Sound / Seattle area property owners. This can be a dangerous DYI project, however if you are willing and able it can be done. The majority of gutter clogs are present near the actual gutter where the downspout is located. 90% of gutter clogs are located in this area. First step is to clear the entire gutter if possible by hand. Scoop the gutter debris and place the debris in a bucket.

Check the downspout opening by looking into the gutter. Often times there is build up present in this location. We also see clogs in the first bend in the downspout. Using a garden hose, usually you can remove the debris using the water pressure from the hose. If this does not clear the downspout you can use a plumbers snake to attempt to clear the clog. If you are unable to remove the clog with the above steps, the next step it to take the downspout apart. Some clogs are large and this step may be needed.

Gutters full and overflowing before cleaning in Seattle, WA

Another option is to tap the downspout to determine if it is holding water. If it sounds solid then you most likely have a clog lower in the downspout, or even worse in the drain pipe that is underground. If this is the case you can use a snake or call a plumber to help with ground clogs. In the Seattle area most homes have gutters and downspouts, and if your home is old, your footing drains that connect to your gutter system may need replacement. Many plumbing companies offer low cost camera inspections to determine your footing drain health. We also recommend measuring any problem areas to determine if there are enough downspouts for the amount of gutters to drain. If you have a long gutter run, and only one downspout, you may want to consider adding another downspout. There is a formula for how many downspouts you need for your gutter run. These formulas are available online, and it is critical to know the dimensions of your downspout to determine this formula.

I hope this helps you declog your gutters. Remember to do this work at your own risk. It is usually best to call a professional and Chinook Services is a top rated to use in the area. Visit Chinook Services Seattle area gutter cleaning page.

Jay Bjorn, owner of Chinook Services

Chinook Services North Seattle Location