Downspouts Cleaning And Repair

After you have cleaned and repaired the horizontal gutters, it´s time to have a closer look at the downspouts. If during the water test (just pour the water into the horizontal rain gutter, it shows you all the weaknesses of your gutter system, very reliable solution) the water flows off the gutter but not the downspout, the downspout is clogged. This is nothing unusual, the debris tends to flow down with the water but the twigs, sprays and leaves get easily stacked in the relatively thin downspout. First check all the rain gutter downspout extension you use (it was smart to use the removable downspout extensions, as you can easily dismantle them, check and clean them and apply them again, wasn´t it?). All the extensions that are usually available on the market (e.g. downspout pipe adapters, downspout covers /check those from Zurn Industries if you need some/, rain gutter downspout hose systems or downspout nozzles) can contribute to the downspout clogging because they change the shape of the downspout from pure horizontal to slope or vertical. If your downspout extensions are clean but water is still kept somewhere within the downspout, get back in the air (using a quality, stable ladder as I recommended you in the Roof Gutters Repair Tips article). The downspouts are mostly clogged in their upper part not far from the horizontal gutter. Do not try to push the clogged debris down through the downspout. It is too long way to earth :-) and if you are not sensitive enough you probably just spoil the downspout (punch a hole in it or infract - is this the right word? I heard it in an American movie! - some of the joints). Instead of pushing the clog down, rather try to pull it up towards the horizontal gutter line with a wire hook (nothing special, just curve the thick wire to have a J-shaped tool long enough to reach the clogged debris). After cleaning the downspout, check also all the joints and fasteners, if some of them is released, fix it. If you use the zinc-coated gutters and downspouts, don´t forget to apply the protective coating (each 5 years or so, depends on the weather in your region). Before the protective dye application, the surface of the gutters and downspouts should be treated with the deruster (descaling fluid) and abrasive grain or paper. Then apply the anti-rust layer and the protective coating. Be sure to paint the whole surface as if you ommit some parts, they will rust through very very quickly (really, it´s like the corrosion´s revenge). What more? Well... if you can do it, use the downspout leaf guard that protects your downspouts from larger twigs and sprays. And the last piece of advice - do not use the stainless steel rectangular tubing downspouts, they are not as practical as the rounded gutters or downspouts (even if you use the plastic rectangular gutters or downspouts, their cleaning is much more difficult than cleaning of the rounded ones. Rounded is just the best shape for all gutter systems.