Want to Know How to Clean Your Downspouts?
Tips from a Gutter Cleaning Contractor on Cleaning Downspouts
A downspout is also known as a leader and carries water from the gutters to the floor. This water can be collected inside a rain barrel, led to the sewer, or spilled onto the floor. According to a professional gutter cleaning contractor, correctly cleaning one’s downspouts is a vital part of home care maintenance. Cleaning your downspouts can be accomplished using either a garden hose, plumbing snake, or manually. Some tips to keep your downspouts clean are cleaning in the late fall, once all the leaves have fallen, and once again in the spring time, in order to prepare them for any spring or summer rain; using pressure from your garden hose will help force out any clogs, and installing screens will help avoid clogs.
Maintaining and cleaning your gutters and downspouts will not just keep a home clean but will also prevent some expensive repairs. Downspouts are made to carry water away from a building. However, if they are not clear, the water will back up in the gutters. Because this water is unable to go down, it will build up in gutters and start to flow over the sides. Eventually, this waterfall will create problems, ranging from rotting wood to water damage and even, in some severe cases, foundation damage.
Downspouts and gutters must be cleaned minimum once a year; however, some experts do agree it really needs to be done twice in a year. Cleaning in the late fall will help prevent blockages. This removes any dead leaves which have fallen and other such debris. Some homeowners should clean them in the spring too. This will help lessen one’s workload, come fall, and catch clogs early enough to avoid any lasting damage.
Determining if a downspout is blocked can be achieved using a garden hose. When the nozzle is placed into the downspout and switched on, water needs to run out of the bottom. If the water is pouring out or it comes out slowly, this is an excellent indication of a blockage.
So, if you live in Monroe, NC, and need a professional gutter cleaning contractor, call us now. We are Esquivel Construction LLC and are available at
(704) 207-6317.