Downspout Clogged or Not Draining?
Water backing up because the downspout is jammed, even when the gutter itself looks clear.
Is This What You Are Seeing?
It rains, and water spills over the gutter near one corner while the rest of the run looks fine. Or you hear water trickling inside the downspout but almost nothing comes out the bottom. Tap the downspout and it sounds solid instead of hollow.
A blocked downspout backs up the whole run behind it. The water has nowhere to go, so it overflows at the corner, sits in the gutter, and adds weight that pulls on the hangers. And whatever does make it out the bottom is dumping at the foundation in a concentrated rush.
Why It Happens
Debris jammed at the elbow
Leaves, needles, and shingle grit wash down the gutter and pile up where the downspout bends at the top or the bottom. The elbow is the choke point, and it plugs solid.
A nest or critter
Birds, wasps, and rodents build in the sheltered top of a downspout. It happens more than people expect, and it stops the water cold.
Undersized or crushed downspout
A small downspout, or one that got dented, cannot pass the volume of a hard storm, so it backs up even when it is not fully blocked.
What It Costs You to Wait
- Overflow at the corner every storm, soaking the foundation there
- Standing water in the backed-up gutter that breeds mosquitoes
- Extra weight on the run that loosens hangers and causes sagging
- A concentrated gush at the base when it finally drains, eroding the soil
How We Fix It
We check the elbows where clogs start and whether the downspout is big enough for the roof it drains. If it is crushed or too small, we replace it with a 3x4 downspout, our standard, or upsize to a 4x5 where the roof needs it. And if clogs keep coming back, stainless micro-mesh guards on the gutter stop the debris from reaching the downspout in the first place.
- Stainless micro-mesh, the only style that stops pine needles
- ONE Gutter Guard: 20-year performance warranty from the maker
- No more climbing a ladder to scoop debris
More about our gutter guards See pricing
Also relevant: Gutter Repair
No subcontractors. The crew that quotes your job is the crew on the roof, and if the work ever fails we come back and make it right.
What Customers Say
“From the estimate to the install it was absolutely wonderful. Chris even brought out a little mock-up roof with a gutter to show how the guards work. We could not be happier with our gutter guards.”
Clogged Downspout: Questions, Answered
My gutters are clean but one corner still overflows. Why?
That is the classic sign of a clogged downspout. The gutter can be spotless, but if the downspout is jammed at the elbow the water backs up and spills at that corner because it has nowhere to drain. Clearing and flushing the downspout fixes it. If it keeps happening, the downspout may be undersized for that roof section.
How do I know if my downspout is clogged?
Tap on it during or right after a rain. A clear downspout sounds hollow and you can hear and see water moving out the bottom. A clogged one sounds solid where the debris is packed, little or no water comes out the bottom, and the gutter above it overflows at that corner. If you are not sure, we will check it on a free estimate.
Do you offer free estimates?
Yes. Every estimate is free and no-pressure. We measure the job, recommend what actually fits your home, and give you an honest price in writing. The price we quote is the price you pay.
Are you licensed and insured?
Yes, Rain Storm Solutions is licensed and insured, as a Florida certified specialty contractor (license SCC131154760). We are a family-owned local business, run by Chris and Jennifer Flanagan, and Chris has more than 20 years of experience protecting Florida homes from rain and storm damage.
Related Gutter Problems
- 01Overflowing GuttersWater pouring over the front edge instead of down the downspout, usually a clog or a gutter too small for Florida rain.
- 02Sagging GuttersA gutter that dips and holds water in the middle of the run, usually failed hangers, the wrong slope, or a heavy clog.
- 03Water Pooling at the FoundationStanding water or saturated soil at the base of the house after a storm, often a gutter or downspout problem you can fix.
Get It Looked At in Hernando County Today
Tell us what your gutters are doing and we will give you a real answer, not a sales pitch. Free estimate, honest pricing up front, and a guarantee that the work holds.