Recommendations to Maintain Clean Gutters and Downspouts

The gutters and downspouts have to operate without leaks, free of clogs and exit the water efficiently. There are several tips to ensure this.

Cleaning
The gutters should be cleaned at least once a year. This is mainly a job requiring ladders, a bucket and a scoop. Placing leaf strainers at the ends will filter the debris for the downspouts. After the cleaning, is the time to consider ways to prevent future debris from collecting.

Robot Cleaning
The effectiveness of clearing away by robot depends largely on the type of debris being cleaned. Leaves can be swept out of the gutter basin although this brings some cleanup from the ground where it is redistributed. Sticks might hurl or break, and thin or small, low lying debris like needles are tougher to reach.

Screens/Leaf Guards
Covering the top of the open surface, the plastic and metal guards filter out leaves and other debris. Tuck the upper side under the lower shingle course and clip it into the outer edge. The metal screens are durable, however these will involve cutting it metal snips and perhaps metal fastening to the upper edges. The guards are effective in keeping out the leaves and larger matter while the smaller stuff gets washed away.

Gutter Slope
The grade at which gutters should be sloped is 1/16" per lineal foot, at the minimum. Keep in mind though that other factors like roof pitch, square footage and gutter size will affect how the water is routed away. If this needs adjusting, the downspouts may need cutting at the ends. The nails will have to be removed and reset - and when doing so if any holes or breaches remain, these must be patched.

Hidden hangers are an excellent way of re-securing the gutter. They are concealed from ground-level. Another alternative is the nut-head spike with sleeve, that are is ratched on. These have grip, although the head will stand out as different among outher flat waffle heads.

Clogs
Clogs are normally in the downspout port, building in the arm and elbow. Retrieve them with a long screwdriver, or a coathanger pulling on the clog, and run water through. Some clogs cannot be forced through. You might have to drill out the rivets with a 1/8" bit and remove the arm.

Maintain Ground Slopes
As a rule, the splash blocks should be set on a slope of 2 to 5 degrees that is the norm for around perimeter structures, to keep water and excess moisture from infiltrating the foundation of the building.

Flashing
View the flashing, that runs under the bottom course shingle and diverts water down into the gutter. These may need to be installed if water is coming from behind the gutter, and is not overflowing.

See the roof valley sections. If any rust is evident, these areas will need to be sanded with emery cloth, primed with a rust inhibitor and at least two-coated with quality finish.

Note: stainless metal screws and fasteners have a reputation for being just that, but when mated with gutters and downspouts made of aluminum, they might result in corrosion. Rust is a natural enemy of gutters and spouting. Once stained, factory finishes will seldom clean.