Common problem

Overflowing gutters usually mean the downpipe, not the gutter

It is a common assumption that an overflowing gutter simply needs the trough itself emptied out. Very often the trough is only half the story — the downpipe running from it has narrowed with silt, moss root or a lodged object, and no amount of clearing the gutter fixes water that has nowhere to go once it reaches the outlet.

Clearing a gutter and ignoring the downpipe is one of the most common half-jobs in this trade, and it is why some gutters seem to overflow again within a few weeks of being 'done'.

Request a gutter and downpipe check 01525 600162

a roof section showing the difference between treated and untreated tiles — common problem: overflowing gutters usually mean the downpipe, not the gutter

How to tell it is the downpipe rather than the gutter

If the gutter overflows evenly along a whole run but the downpipe outlet is visibly clear of debris on the surface, the blockage is very often lower down inside the pipe rather than in the trough. Standing water in the gutter near the outlet even in dry weather is another strong sign the pipe itself is not draining.

What we check and clear

The full gutter run by hand, moving debris towards the outlet rather than pushing it further along.
The outlet and hopper, where leaves and moss most commonly form the first blockage.
The visible length of the downpipe, checking for a change in sound or flow when water is run through.
Swan-neck offsets and shoes at the base, which trap debris more than a straight length does.

When a blockage is beyond a clearing job

Some downpipe blockages, particularly on older cast iron runs or where roots have entered a below-ground section, need more than a gutter clean. If we find that water still is not moving through a pipe after clearing what we can access, we will say so rather than mark the job done and leave you with the same problem in the next heavy rain.

Why this matters beyond the gutter itself

Water that cannot get away through the downpipe finds another route — over the back of the gutter and down the wall, through a fascia joint, or pooling against the foundations at the base of the downpipe. An overflowing gutter is rarely just a gutter problem by the time it has been happening for a while.

Our own photographs

Images from Sky Scrapers Ltd work showing the methods described on this page.

a roof section showing the difference between treated and untreated tiles, relevant to overflowing gutters usually mean the downpipe, not the gutter

a roof slope part cleaned, showing the untouched moss alongside, relevant to overflowing gutters usually mean the downpipe, not the gutter

a restored roof photographed from the driveway after cleaning, relevant to overflowing gutters usually mean the downpipe, not the gutter

Where this applies locally

Towns where this comes up most often on our patch:

Questions we get asked

How can I tell if my problem is the gutter or the downpipe?

If the trough overflows evenly and the outlet area is clear, or if there is standing water in dry weather, the downpipe is the more likely culprit rather than the gutter itself.

Do you clear downpipes as well as gutters?

We check and clear what is accessible as part of a gutter job. Where a blockage sits deep inside an old cast iron run or below ground, that can be beyond a gutter clean and we will tell you.

Why did my gutter overflow again a few weeks after cleaning?

If only the trough was cleared and the downpipe was not checked, a partial blockage lower down can still cause overflow even with a clean gutter above it.

Can a blocked downpipe cause damage inside the house?

Yes, indirectly. Water that cannot get away often finds another route, including down a wall or through a fascia joint, which can lead to damp inside if it goes on long enough.

Get your gutters and downpipes properly checked

Tell us where the overflow is happening and whether it is constant or only in heavy rain, and we can plan the right approach before we quote.