How to Avoid an Overflowing Gutter: A Guide

Washing machine making funny noises? Got constantly-dripping taps? Or perhaps there’s a funny smell coming from the cupboard under the sink? The fact is, when it comes to your home there’s a tendency to panic as soon as something goes wrong.

So we bet – if you’re anything like us, anyway – you feel the very same pang of dread when you notice your gutter quickly filling up.

The good news is though this is one minor home-based hiccup that doesn’t have to be as painful as you first thought. How? Simply check out our useful guide and you’ll soon know exactly how to fix a clogged gutter.

Containing hints, tips and advice on dealing with the problem swiftly and efficiently, our definitive guide will instantly bring down your stress levels. Read on…

Avoid Overflowing Gutters: How To

Gutters smelling iffy? Foul odour coming from the general area? First, don’t panic! If you discover overflowing gutters, there are a few things you can do to halt the issue before it poses a bigger threat to your home. The first is this: make sure you have plenty of gutter cleaning tools to hand!

So just how do you nip a gutter-related problem in the bud before it becomes an even bigger issue? And worse still, before it starts costing you serious money? Before you seek professional help, at least try this first:

Remove Leaves, Moss and Debris – Significantly reducing the flow of water that might spill over the edge of the gutter, a quick and simple removal of leaves and other debris could be the answer to no more problems in the future. Mud and leaves can often get caught in the down pipe, so why not consider installing a gutter guard as a convenient preventative measure.

Consider the Positioning of Roof Tiles – Are the roof tiles hanging over the gutter correctly? Often, tiles might overlap which could mean water will run behind the gutter and onto the ground. What this might mean for you then is a gutter which overflows quickly – and will cost you money as quickly, too.

Grab a Bucket of Water – If you’re looking for some peace of mind that your gutter’s doing its job properly, simply pour a bucket of water into it and wait to see what happens. Is the water flowing towards the rainwater drainpipe? If so, don’t panic; all is working as it should be!

If, however, the water’s flowing away from the pipe, it might be time to refit the gutter to make sure it flows in the right direction. Trust us, a tricky job which you could do without – but nothing that a little maintenance won’t be able to prevent.

A higher capacity gutter might also be the answer, so do keep an eye on the situation and upgrade to a larger one if you suspect your gutter might be too small for your requirements.

How to Clean Your Downspout

So you’ve identified a problem with your gutter and now it’s time to clean out your downspout. Here’s what to do…

What you’ll need:

• Protective gloves
• Extension ladder
• Narrow garden trowel or spade
• Rubbish bags
• Garden hose with sprayer attachment
• Bucket
• S-hook
• Plumber’s snake

And here’s what to do:

It’s time to clean your gutters and downspouts, but where to start?!

1. Dig out and dust off your tools and select your starting point; the corners of your home are a good place to begin as downspouts are generally located here
2. Start near the downspout and work away from it. By doing this, you’ll avoid pushing any additional debris further into it
3. Now, place your extension ladder in a safe and level place. Check this guide by Laddestore for the do’s and don’ts of ladder safety when clearing gutters before grabbing your bucket and s-hook
4. Attach them to the ladder and have a rubbish bag close by to discard any debris. Make sure you have your gloves on, as it’s likely you’ll be handling sharp objects
5. Start by removing large debris at the part of the gutter closest to the downspout. You can do this with your spade or trowel, placing debris into the bucket or rubbish bag as you go
6. It’s now time to rinse the gutter. Do this in the direction of the downspout, using the attachment on the hose. Now, simply spray until all the debris has gone
7. Can you see any clogs? It’s time to clear them; use the spray attachment on the hose to direct water into the downspout from the bottom end, or knock any clogs loose by directing the water to the upper end. Not working? Try the plumber’s snake in the downspout, as this should loosen any debris
8. Once you’ve found any damage, repair it. Inspect the gutters – looking for holes, cracks or dents – and sort them out as soon as possible, placing any debris into your rubbish bag
9. Finally, it’s time to install some gutter guards. Helping to deflect the leaves and other debris from the gutter, guards like this can be purchased easily and cheaply.

Home Guttering: Your Options

If you’ve experienced surface water drainage problems or even issues relating to your gutter just not quite being large enough for your home or company’s needs, you’ve come to the right place.

Here, we touch upon the pros of each type of household guttering – from aluminium to vinyl and copper – to ensure minimum disruption to your home or business

Aluminium Gutters – One of the most widely-used materials when it comes to house gutters, the aluminium gutter is lightweight and really easy to install, particularly if you like a spot of DIY. They won’t rust, too –  and they come with a good thickness for long-lasting duty, wherever it’s installed.

Vinyl Gutters – Durable and long-lasting, the vinyl gutter is heavy and therefore not recommended for the DIY-ers amongst you. They can, however, be easily painted and are strong – which means they’ll last some years.

Copper Gutters – A thing of beauty (who would have thought it?!), copper gutters look great. There’s no need to paint them as they develop a patina over time – and like aluminium gutters, they won’t rust either. Used on high-end residences generally, they do require a professional to install them but they make up for that upfront cost when it comes to how they look in general.

What to do in a Gutter-based Emergency

Gutter-based emergency? Never fear; we’re here with some handy hints to ensure surface water drainage is quick and pain-free. Here’s what to do:

One of the fastest ways of cleaning pipes and drains, ‘drain jetting’ will help you out when plungers and drain rods just won’t cut it – after all, they don’t always reach and therefore won’t get to the real root of the problem.

Shooting a high pressure blast of water, drain jets can tackle bends as well as move quickly down the pipe. This method is so powerful, in fact, that it can even help to clear blockages which have been caused by tree roots.

Increasing flow efficiency by up to 95%, drain jetting really is the answer when all else fails. A great preventative measure, it’s fast and efficient and can help take away any unnecessary stress when it comes to ensuring your home is ticking over nicely.

How Can Drain Jetting Help?

Undertaken by professionals with years of experience, drain jetting helps to clear drains, sewers, interceptors and grease traps, so you can be sure your house gutters are in order at all times.

You’ll always get a swift and fuss-free service when you choose a professional company to tackle your gutter-related issues – and drain jetting will help get to the very heart of the problem to ensure it doesn’t crop up again.

DIY Home Remedies

If you’ve tried a host of online or shop-bought gutter-clearing remedies, it might be time for plan B.

Looking for a DIY home remedy or two when it comes to gutter repairs? Here, we’re bringing you all the info you need, so read on and discover just how to clear a clogged gutter.

Plunger – Tried a plunger? It should be your first port of call. Extremely useful for clearing blocked gutter pipes, plungers can be a handy, inexpensive tool when it comes to sorting out the issue quickly and easily.

Washing Detergent – Use washing detergent in its powdered form to clean your drain when the water’s just not flowing down it effectively enough. Simply pour a little down the drain and leave it to settle for a little while – then simply rinse.

Vinegar and Baking Soda – Creating a fizzing action to help clear blocked pipes, vinegar and baking soda can be left in the gutter hole and left for some time. Let the solution fizz and then simply wash away with water.

When’s it Time to Call Out a Professional?

So you’ve dug out the gutter cleaning tools in a bid to tackle the surface water drainage issue yourself? If the problem persists though, it might well be time to admit defeat and seek the help of a professional drainage services company.

If you’re suffering with a blocked gutter and you’re in the central London, London or surrounding Home Counties, don’t panic; there’s a blocked drains solution for you that will sort the problem quickly and easily.

Gutter repairs in London can ensure there’s little disruption to your home or business – and isn’t that what you want in the end? Professional drainage service companies will get to the cause of overflowing gutters to ensure you can sleep soundly tonight and every night.

Need help with an overflowing gutter in Central London, London or the Home Counties? Speak to one of our team today on: 07563 571200 / 01727 875975 or email: info@londondrainageservices.com.