What Happens When Your Gutters Are Clogged?
A little clog can escalate into a big problem.

Imagine you’re sitting on a front porch and you notice a few storm clouds rolling in. A light breeze beginning to rustle the leaves on the trees and the sound of birds chirping acts as a light warning of rain on the horizon. A sprinkle here, a sprinkle there. Then, the sky opens and down falls rain in thick curtains that pool into puddles on the cement and in the yard.
With that little scenario in mind, if your gutters are working properly water will be flowing out the downspouts like whitewater rapids and away from your home. But if those gutters are clogged, that water will have nowhere to go but up and over the edges of your gutters, spraying like a fountain at gutter seams and elbow joints, running along the siding and fascia, and sneakily settling in spaces where moisture shouldn’t be. In strong rains or winter melting situations where gutters are clogged, your gutters could pull away from the roofline because of the excessive weight, sometimes pulling your siding along with it. This is not good for your roof, your siding, your gutters, or your pocketbook!
When gutter clogs occur, bad things tend to happen. Gradual leaks will start to spring up, insects—think bees and mosquitos—will make themselves at home, and the rotting or rusting of your homes’ siding or the gutters themselves becomes increasingly likely.
What can you do? Keep a close eye on your gutters and take action as soon as a clog appears. If a gutter clog creeps up on you, here’s what you need to do:
1.Remove the clog! Scoop it, push it, pull it … clear the debris out of there in whatever way you can.
2.Rinse the gutter for good measure! Use the hose to spray any lingering debris off the gutter landing and down the downspout.
3.Check the downspouts! A clog at a downspout juncture or near an elbow bend can be a little harder to remove. Use a gutter cleaning stick, plumbing snake, or pressure washer attachment to snag the clog. You may need to unfasten the downspout where a natural seam is located, remove the clog, and then reassemble the downspout to the gutter line.
To limit the threat of gutter clogs, keep up with your annual maintenance.If you’ve tried all of the above and you’re still running into clogs time and time again, contact the crew at Rainman Seamless Rain Gutters and we’ll assess your gutters and offer solution options.
If you have questions about gutter clogs, the team at Rainman Seamless Rain Gutters can help. Founded in 1992 as a local family owned and operated business, Rainman Seamless Rain Gutters protect you and your investment with a strong business that backs up our 20-year workmanship warranty on the gutter and 10 years on the corners. As lifelong residents of Spokane, we are active in the community through business, civic and charitable involvement and support. Contact our team if you would like more information on any of the services we offer!









