Properly maintaining your downspouts is one of the most effective—and most often overlooked—strategies for preventing water damage to your home.
Downspouts are connected to the gutters on your roof and are designed to carry rainwater to the ground and away from your roof, fascia, and foundation. Over time, leaves and sticks can collect in your gutters, and when it rains or snows, that debris can become lodged in your downspouts. If don’t have screens installed over your gutters, it’s a good idea to clean them monthly using a trowel and high-pressure garden hose.
If your downspouts don’t appear to be draining effectively, there’s likely a clog. Follow these steps:
- Remove the bottom part of the downspout
- Use your garden hose at full pressure to spray upwards into the spout.
- Feed your hose up into the spout as the clog begins to loosen.
- If the clog is particularly stubborn, you may need to use a plumber’s snake. (Be cautious with powered augers, as they can damage the downspouts).
If you notice standing water in your gutters, you may need to adjust the slope so they’ll properly drain toward the downspouts. And if there’s standing water at the bottom, consider adding downspout extensions to carry the water farther away from your home’s foundation.
Maplewood Plumbing and Sewer has been cleaning downspouts on St. Louis homes for more than 30 years. Our family owned business prides itself on our solid reputation in the community. Give us a call and see for yourself why our loyal customers won’t use anyone else!
We offer a one-year warranty on all parts and labor excluding washers
We are also experts in Kitchen plumbing, basement plumbing, bathroom plumbing, and tankless water heater installation.
Give us a call at 314-645-6350 or fill out the contact form here to request a bid.