How To Remove A Downspout Clog

It's starting to rain in the Pacific Northwest and time to perform some simple maintenance on your gutters and downspouts. Downspouts are often connected to gutters with an elbow fitting. Because of the bends in the elbow, these are prone to clogs from pine needles, leaves and other debris. It is important to make sure your gutters and downspouts can actually drain the roof before the rainy season starts. Follow the steps below to make sure your downspouts are ready for the next few months of work.

Tools needed for this project - ladder, gloves, screwdriver or nut driver and a cleaning tool.

My preferred clog removal tool, a stick found on the ground.

Tools Needed:
•Ladder
•Gloves (sharp edges on the downspout sheet metal)
•Screwdriver - typically slotted or a nut driver - usually 1/4 inch or 5/16 inch
•Clog Removal Device - I'm using a stick I found on the ground
•Colorful Language (optional, but satisfying)

Step 1 - Find the sheet metal screws holding the downspout fittings together. These are usually slotted type fasteners located at the fitting junctions.

Step 2 - Remove all the fasteners of the downspout piece you want to remove.

Step 3 - Pull the joint apart. This may require some wiggling and the liberal application of colorful language.

Step 3 - Remove both sides of the elbow joint. Colorful language still helpful if needed.

Step 4 - Remove any clogs or debris from the elbow. This one is clogged with a large amount of pine needles.

Step 4 - Using the "clog poking device" clear out any clog from the gutter to downspout connection.

Step 4 - View from below at the gutter to downspout connection. This still needs to have debris removed.

Step 5 - Once the downspout is clean, replace the elbow. It is usually easiest to start from the bottom connection. Once again, colorful language is helpful to get things to fit.

Step 5 - Almost done. Once the bottom of the elbow is in start to work on getting the upper end back in place.

Step 6 - Once you have found the screw you dropped on the ground, put it back in place to secure the elbow.