How To Unclog A Downspout If You Don't Have Any Tools

Over time, gutters fill up with leaves, pine needles, and even birds nests. Cleaning them out can be a precarious process, but neglecting to clean your gutters does more harm than you think. Clogged gutters cannot direct rainwater away from your home, so instead, it puddles and leaks into your roof and eventually the walls. This will lead to rot and even dangerous mold. It's especially crucial to keep your gutters clean in winter and that they drain properly because ice can severely damage your roof. While it's never easy climbing a ladder to reach those gutters, one of the hardest parts of the job is unclogging the downspout. If you hire a professional, they often pull the blockage loose with a plumbing snake, which is essentially a long cable with a hook on the end, but you don't need any tools at all to get the job done. The best way to handle this problem is to blast the clog loose using your garden hose.

For those who are somewhat new to exterior home maintenance, a downspout is an S-curved pipe that channels water from the gutters away from the house. Like the gutters themselves, they are usually made of aluminum or steel. Downspouts are particularly tricky to unclog because they have two curved joints where gunk can get stuck. All it takes is a stick or a bunch of leaves, and nothing is getting past. If you clean out your gutters and they still fail to drain, chances are you have a clog in your downspout. Correct this issue as soon as you can, because flooded gutters can become quite heavy and even detach from your roof. 

The first step is getting on the roof safely. You should always attach a stabilizer to the top of your ladder so it doesn't slip. It's also best to have a spotter to stand at the base of the ladder to support it in case it starts to fall. Wear a hard hat if you have one and wear closed-toe shoes with good treads. Since you're going to be dealing with water, be conscious of possible slips. Before you climb the ladder, connect a nozzle to the end of the hose. Once you reach the downspout hole, use a gloved hand to try to scoop out as much debris as you can. Then place the hose's nozzle against the opening, turn it to full blast, and spray the clog loose.

If this doesn't work, there are several other options. You can use a power washer if you have one. The power washer's hose will apply thousands of pounds of pressure per square inch, so it shouldn't have any problem clearing a blockage. That said, keep the PSI as low as you can so you don't accidentally damage the downspout. You can also use it from the ground or even try using a leaf blower. Prevent your gutters from clogging in the first place by adding a mesh covering called a gutter guard. Another good tip for keeping your gutters unclogged is to make sure you trim back branches that hang over your roof.