How can I tell if my downspout is clogged?
Short answer: Water backing up or overflowing near the downspout during rainfall can indicate that water isn’t moving freely through the downspout.
The clearest sign shows up during the next rain. If the gutter above a downspout is overflowing or backing up while nothing — or only a trickle — is coming out of the bottom of that downspout, the blockage is in the downspout itself, not the gutter run. You may also hear gurgling from the outlet, see water seeping out of a joint or an elbow halfway down, or notice the gutter staying full long after the rain stops.
When we check one, we start at the elbows, because that is where leaves, pine needles, and shingle granules catch and bridge across the bend. A garden hose run into the top of the downspout tells the story fast: if the water backs up instead of flowing through, the clog is below. Around here the worst offenders are the big oaks and pines over Kingwood roofs, and a downspout tied into underground pipe can hide a second clog below grade, so we check the outlet end too before calling it clear.
What we check in New Caney
When we come out to a home in New Caney, we look at this up close — the gutter run, the downspouts, the fascia behind it, and where the water actually goes when it rains. If it ties into the rest of the system, we check that too, so we are not fixing one piece while the next piece sends the water right back. See our Seamless Gutters page for what that system looks like when it is done right — and if the fix is really a drainage question, our Drainage Solutions page covers that side of it.
Related reading: Seamless Gutters · Drainage Solutions · All questions · Contact us
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if my gutters are clogged? Overflow during rain, water backing up near a downspout, and water spilling over the edge are the usual signs. We check the gutter run and the downspouts, including the elbows, to find where the water is getting held up.
Do I need a professional to look at it? If you are seeing the signs described above, yes — it is worth having someone look at it in person before it turns into fascia damage, erosion, or water where it should not be. Call or text Orion’s Rain at (281) 504-9998 and we will tell you what we find.
Do you serve New Caney? Yes. Orion’s Rain serves Kingwood and the Lake Houston area — Kingwood, Atascocita, Porter, Humble, New Caney, Summerwood, Fall Creek, Huffman, and Eagle Springs. Call or text (281) 504-9998, 24 hours a day.
Related questions
- Why do gutter downspout elbows clog?
- Why does water shoot backward out of my downspout?
- Why do downspouts get clogged?
Get it looked at
If this sounds like your yard in New Caney, call or text Orion’s Rain at (281) 504-9998 — 24 hours a day. We will test the system and tell you what is actually wrong, and what it will take to fix it the right way.
Orion’s Rain Smartscapes and Exteriors — (281) 504-9998 — LI0029444