Most people don’t give their gutters a second thought until they become clogged. It is then that you notice water from a heavy rainfall is streaming out of and over the gutter instead of flowing down and out of the downspout. This problem creates a puddle on the ground below the overflow. And if left alone, it will erode the ground and create a trench below the overflow. Downspouts commonly are clogged with leaves and twigs and can be cleared by pushing the clog down through the spout.
Step One
Position your ladder by the problem downspout. Make sure that it is on level ground and that it is secure so it will not slip when you climb it.
Step Two
Bend your wire coat hanger so it is straight. Climb the ladder with the coat hanger and bucket.
Step Three
Examine the downspout and remove any leaves or debris you can reach, placing the material into the bucket. Poke the coat hanger wire down the downspout and see if it goes in easily. This will loosen any lodged debris. Note that problem areas are usually at the curve of the gutter.
Step Four
Shoot water down the gutter downspout to see if it is clear. If it is still blocked, you may need to use a plumbing snake to clean the downspout. Wind the device into the spout to press through clogs. Then try shooting water down the downspout again to make sure it is clear.