Construction | July 18, 2024

Downspout Cleanout: A Guide for the Most Stubborn Clogs

Falling leaves sure are beautiful, but they can wreak havoc on your property if you don’t perform a downspout cleanout.

The leaves, sticks, nuts and other debris we see fall into a downspout are more than annoying. They can cause damage that leads to disastrous clogs and backups, and that leads to foundation issues or flooding back into your home or on your property. In either case, you’re left with expensive water damage.

But don’t worry. We have three great tips for mitigating and preventing any of this from happening to you.

Table of Contents

What is a Downspout?

Downspouts are the pipes that drive the water from the gutter to the place where we want to dispose of that water.

They begin in the outlet of a gutter or a collector box. Some drain above ground into your yard or driveway. Others flow into an underground downspout drain. Lastly, a third type drains directly into the ground (to a location where they won’t cause damage to your home’s foundation).

Downspout Cleanout Safety Precautions

This project may require you to climb onto the roof, so to ensure your safety, take these precautions:

Get help from someone to hold the ladder steady and turn on the water
Select a sturdy extension ladder to reach the downspout opening on high roofs
Wear thick, suede gloves to protect your hands and work goggles to protect your eyes
Wait for mild weather conditions to clean the downspouts
If possible, clean from the ladder (don’t step on the roof)

Take seriously the safety do’s and dont’s for any job requiring the use of a ladder. That includes a downspout cleanout from the opening near the roofline.

Clogged Downspout: 3 Cleanout Methods

Here are three great methods “” progressing from an easy cleanout to the most difficult cleanout “” for clearing the clog in your downspouts:

1. Clean out Bottom of Downspout Opening

Make sure the opening at the bottom of the downspout is clear
Make sure water and debris that comes out of the downspout flows away from your landscaping (or any other areas you don’t want flooded)
Use a garden trowel to reach up into the bottom opening and manually remove any clogged leaves and debris
After you’ve cleaned out any clogs from the bottom of the downspout, use a ladder to access the opening at the top of the downspout
Insert a garden hose into the top downspout opening and turn on the water (hopefully, the water pressure and gravity will work together to push out any remaining clogs)

Keep in mind, a thorough downspout cleanout begins by clearing any clogs from the bottom opening. Once this is done, you can then begin your cleanout from the top opening of the downspout.

2. If That Doesn’t Work, Use a Handheld Drum Auger

Grab a handheld drum auger with a good length auger (we recommend a drum auger with a 25-foot cable)
Insert the auger into the downspout opening and work it up and down
The auger can pass through most downspout elbows, as well as break through most light clogs of leaves, twigs, and other debris.

View of the auger cable about to enter the opening at the top of the downspout. Notice how this unprotected gutter sends all sorts of debris into the downspout. Try using a handheld drum auger if the clog is a bit too stubborn for the trowel and garden hose method.

3. Still Clogged? Flush it Out with a Jetter

For the most stubborn debris, clean out the downspot clog with a sewer jetter
Grab some rubber gloves and eye protection
To use the sewer jetter, carefully access the top downspout opening. Guide the nozzle at least a foot into the opening before you turn on the flow of water.
Pull out the jetter cable after you have finished cleaning the downspout

TIP: Carefully position the sewer jetter’s hose throughout the process so it does not pull itself to the ground. Be cautious not to trip or get snagged on the line as you move around on the ladder.

A jetter (or Hydro-Jet) is most commonly associated with clearing and cleaning out clogs from sewer lines. They can also be used to remove the most stubborn blockages from your downspouts. This is especially true if your blockage is in an underground downspout drain.

What About the Underground Downspout Drain?

Your gutter’s downspouts often connect to an underground drain. This allows water and debris from your downspouts to drain into the public stormwater system.

If you have a clog in the underground downspout drain “” or a break “” it will likely require a hydro-jet to remove the clog. In addition, if it’s broken, you will need a plumber with an excavation crew to repair or replace the underground drain.

Replacing or unclogging an underground downspout drain is expensive. It takes far less time, effort, and expense to maintain your downspouts with cleanouts.

Prevent Future Downspout Cleanouts

Want to keep future downspout cleanouts to an absolute minimum?

Consider purchasing a gutter screen (also called a gutter guard) to protect the downspout from accumulating leaves and other debris that fall into it. A gutter screen will allow you to easily remove stopped potential blockage from your downspout drain.

The process for excavating and repairing or replacing an underground downspout drain is similar to how a broken sewer line is handled or how a clog is removed from a sewer drain.

Installing a gutter guard is easier than you might think. It’s a great way to prevent future downspout cleanouts by keeping leaves and other debris falling in and creating a frustrating clog.

Final Thoughts on a Downspout Cleanout

In conclusion, if you want to save the much larger expense of unclogging or repairing an underground downspout drain, seriously consider the three downspout clean out methods above.

Want even more protection against water damage and flooding from a clogged upper or underground downspout drain? Consider also installing a gutter guard system.

Call 1-Tom-Plumber

Don’t hesitate to contact us here or call us at 1-Tom-Plumber (1-866-758-6237) if you need help with any outdoor plumbing issues or questions.

1-Tom-Plumber’s certified team of plumbers and drain technicians respond immediately to any emergency plumbing, drain cleaning, or water damage problem. We also handle the excavation of underground water lines and sewer main lines. Our immediate-response team is available every day and night of the year, even on holidays.