Gutters overflowing every time it rains hard
Water pouring over the front edge of a gutter during a downpour has four usual causes, and only one of them is fixed by clearing debris. Knowing which one you have saves paying for the wrong job.
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- Note whether it spills at one point or along a length
- Look for a vertical stain under a suspected joint
- Watch whether dripping continues after the rain stops
Blockage versus fall
A blocked run spills at one point, usually near the obstruction, and keeps dripping long after the rain stops because water is standing in the channel. A run with the wrong fall spills along a length and empties once the rain does, because nothing is holding it.
Joints and outlets
A failed joint drips in a steady line even in light rain, and leaves a vertical stain on the wall below. An undersized or partly blocked outlet backs water up towards the nearest joint, so the spill appears some distance from the actual restriction.
What clearance changes
Clearing removes moss, silt and roof grit, and confirms whether water runs freely to the outlet afterwards. If it still spills once clear, the issue is fall, a joint or the outlet, and that is a repair rather than a clean.
Common questions
- Can you tell which it is without going up?
- Often, from where the spill and staining are. A camera on the pole confirms it before any work is priced.
- Do you repair as well as clear?
- We clear, and we will point out joint or fall problems with photos so you know what to raise with a roofer.
- How often should gutters be cleared?
- Once a year suits most houses. Under trees, twice is more realistic.
Similar situations
Send a photo taken during rain if you have one and we will price the clearance and tell you what else it shows.
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