How can you tell if a gutter is clogged?
Short answer. The clearest sign is water spilling over the front of the gutter in a moderate rain, or a downspout that barely trickles while the gutter above it overflows. Other clues include plants growing out of the gutter, sagging sections, streaks or stains on the siding and fascia, and a trench washed into the mulch beneath one spot.
Signs during and after rain
- Water sheeting over the front lip in rain that should not overwhelm it.
- A downspout that runs weakly or not at all.
- Standing water in the gutter a day after the rain stops.
- Water dripping from seams where it never used to.
Signs in dry weather
- Seedlings, grass or moss growing along the gutter.
- Gutters sagging or pulling away from the fascia under the weight.
- Dark streaks, peeling paint or algae on the fascia and siding below.
- Washed-out mulch or a muddy trench under one section.
- Mosquitoes, or birds and wasps nesting in the gutter.
- A downspout that sounds dull and solid when tapped instead of hollow.
Where clogs hide
Most clogs form at the outlet where the gutter feeds the downspout, in the elbows, and in gutter sections under roof valleys where debris funnels down. A gutter can look clear from the ground while the outlet is packed shut.
When to check in Georgia
Spring, after the pollen and oak tassel drop; late fall, after the leaves come down; and after big storms. Under pines, check more often, because needles fall much of the year.
Checking safely
Binoculars or a phone camera on an extension pole show a lot from the ground. If you go up, use a stable ladder with a standoff and someone to hold it. See pine needles and leaves on the roof and the Georgia roof maintenance checklist.