How to tell a gutter is blocked from the ground
Watch the gutter during steady rain from a safe spot. Water spilling over the lip along one stretch, or splashing from a corner, points to debris holding it back. Grass or seedlings visible along the edge mean silt has built up enough to grow in. A downpipe that gurgles but delivers little water at the bottom suggests the blockage is in the outlet or pipe rather than the channel.
Inside the house, damp patches high on a wall or around a window head can be linked to an overflowing gutter outside. They are worth mentioning when you get in touch, even if you are unsure of the connection.
What actually blocks a gutter
Leaves are the obvious culprit, but they are rarely the only one. Moss dislodged from roof tiles washes down and settles in the channel. Fine grit from weathered tiles builds up as silt that holds water and feeds plant growth. Birds' nests, balls and children's toys turn up surprisingly often too.
Outlets are the usual pinch point. Debris travels along the channel with the water and jams at the opening into the downpipe, so a gutter can look mostly clear yet still flood around one corner.
How we clear a blocked gutter
We remove debris from the full length of each run rather than just the visibly overflowing part, then clear each outlet so water can leave the gutter. Downpipes are checked to make sure they run. Material is bagged rather than washed down the pipes, where it would simply create the next blockage further down.
Before-and-after photographs come with the work. They are particularly useful for the back of a property or a high run you cannot see from the garden.
When a blockage is really a different fault
Sometimes the gutter is clear and still overflows. A run that has sagged between brackets holds water in a low spot, and a gutter that has lost its fall towards the outlet drains slowly however clean it is. A blocked downpipe further down, or below ground, can also back water up into an empty gutter.
Clearing first makes these faults visible. If we find one, we explain it and whether it falls within the minor gutter repairs we offer, so you are not paying for repeated cleans that never solve the underlying problem.
Why not leave it until next autumn?
Water escaping from a blocked gutter has to go somewhere. Running down the face of a wall it can saturate brickwork and pointing, encourage green staining, and in time contribute to damp inside. Water spilling at the base of the wall can soak the ground beside foundations. Overflow at a fascia can also keep timber wet for long periods.
None of this happens overnight, but it is cheaper to clear a blockage than to deal with what persistent overflow can cause.
Is it safe to clear it yourself?
A single-storey gutter on firm ground may be within reach of a careful homeowner with a stable ladder and someone to foot it. Anything higher, above a conservatory, over a slope or near overhead cables is a different matter. Leaning out from an upstairs window or standing on a garden chair are common causes of falls.
Pushing a garden hose or rod hard into a blocked downpipe from a ladder can compact the debris or separate a joint. If you are not comfortable working at height, a few photographs from the ground are enough for us to give a free quote.
Telling us about a blocked gutter
The more precisely you can describe the overflow, the better the visit can be planned. Say which side of the house is affected, whether water comes over the front lip or out of a corner, and whether the downpipe on that run delivers water at the bottom. A photograph or short clip taken during rain is ideal.
Mention anything sitting under the gutter as well: a conservatory, porch roof, greenhouse or parked car. If neighbours share a run on a terrace, let us know, because debris on their side can affect yours.
Common questions
My gutter only overflows in heavy rain. Is it blocked?
Possibly partially. Silt and leaves reduce the channel's capacity, so it copes with light rain but not a downpour. A blocked outlet or sagging section can cause the same symptom.
Do you unblock downpipes as well?
Downpipes are checked as part of every clearance. For a stubborn external pipe, see our downpipe unblocking page.
Will you wash the debris down the drain?
No. Debris is removed and bagged, so it does not lodge further down the system.
Do I need to be at home?
Not usually, as long as every side of the house can be reached safely. Tell us about locked gates or anything beneath the gutters.
Can a blocked gutter cause damp inside?
Persistent overflow can soak the wall below and contribute to damp patches inside, especially near window heads. Clearing the gutter removes that source of water.
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Based in Petersfield, working across Hampshire · Surrey · Sussex, insured to £5,000,000 public liability.