How to Tell Your Gutters Are Blocked or Overflowing

The first heavy rain of autumn is usually when a blocked gutter shows itself. Water that should run along the gutter and into the downpipe starts spilling over the edge instead, often at the same spot every time. Once you know what to look for, you can spot most problems from the ground, before they turn into damp walls, rotten fascias or a gutter that has come away from the wall.

The signs to look for after rain

• Water pouring over the edge during or just after a downpour, rather than running into the downpipe.
• Overflow in one spot only. This usually means a blockage close to that point, not a problem with the whole run.
• Water still dripping long after the rain stops. The gutter is holding water because it cannot drain.
• Staining or moss on the wall or fascia below the gutter, which shows where water has been escaping for a while.
• Plants or small trees growing out of the gutter. Their roots can hold moss, silt and leaves in place.
• A sagging section. A gutter full of wet debris is heavier than it was built to carry, and the brackets can start to pull away.

You can check most of this from the ground with a torch after dark, and from across the road in daylight. If you need to see the inside of the gutter, do not climb a ladder in wet weather to look. That is a job for a professional with the right equipment.

What is usually blocking the gutter

In our experience in North Kent and South East London, the usual culprits are:

• Leaves and sycamore seeds, which pile up in the corners and at the outlets through autumn.
• Moss and silt that build up over time and turn into a dense layer that water cannot move through.
• A blocked outlet into the downpipe, which stops the whole run from draining even when the gutter itself looks clear.
• Nests or debris from birds, most often at the end of a run or near a downpipe.

What our camera shows

Most blocked gutters look clear from the ground because the problem sits inside. On our blocks of flats and industrial units we use a wireless camera to look inside the gutter before and after the clean. The footage shows the build-up of silt and leaves, where the water stops moving, and whether the outlets are clear. It also shows the state of the joints and brackets.

When to get them cleaned

If you see overflow after rain, or water staining the wall below the gutter, it is worth booking a clean before the wet months settle in. Winter rain makes a blockage worse, and the water damage that follows costs far more to put right than a clean does.

We clean from the ground using poles and vacuum equipment, so there is no need to put a ladder against the house for most jobs. If you would like us to look at your gutters, you can request a free quote or call us on 01322 250731 and tell us your town.