Underground gutter Drain Maintenance
Gutter Systems
The overall purpose of a home's gutter system is to collect the large amount of water that collects on the roof and transport it away from the home, especially the foundation, to protect it from water damage due to prolonged exposure. Depending on your home, the end point of your gutter system can be either above ground into your garden or continue on below the surface. Keeping the entire system clear is crucial for the long term benefit of your home, especially here in the Pacific Northwest, where our gutter systems must process a huge volume of water each year.
gutter cleaning vs. underground Gutter drain cleaning services
Most homeowners understand the importance of routine gutter cleaning services for their home, however, gutter cleaning only addresses issues with the flow of water from the roof to the surface level of the ground. For houses that have underground gutter drains, an additional service is often needed to ensure the same level of care is taken throughout the entire gutter system.
Trailhead City Window Cleaning uses a hydro jetting technique to clear and maintain underground gutter drains. This works by flushing out any debris that has accumulated in the drains with high pressure water snake to force it down and out of the gutter system.
Underground gutter drain maintenance can be scheduled as a standalone service or in addition to your regular gutter cleaning service.
How do I tell what type of downspouts my hOme Has?
Above Ground Downspout
The end of the downspout feeds the water above ground, usually to a bed of rocks or a drain catch to help carry the water further away from the home. By keeping this area below the mouth of your gutter clear of debris, you can help your gutter system do its job of moving water away. If your gutters end above ground, your entire gutter system cleaning is included in our regular gutter cleaning service.
Below Ground Downspout
The end of the downspout continues below ground, typically via a series of pipes that connect and carry the water away from the home. These pipes may terminate somewhere in your yard or feed the water flow into the local sewer or storm drain system. Overtime, these pipes can accumulate dirt and debris causing clogs and backflows and since they are entirely underground, it can be extremely difficult to clear it out.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if I have a clogged underground gutter drain?
It is usually easy to spot a clogged drain because you will notice pooling or a backflow of water around the above ground connection point. When you notice this happening, it is important to take care of the clog as soon as possible. The water, having nowhere to go, will build up and sit against the exterior of the home's foundation or find it's way inside the home, both of which can cause much larger problems down the road.
How do you treat clogged underground gutter drains?
Using a specialized machine that combines high pressure and high output water flows, we can snake your drains and blow any mud or debris clogs out the end of your underground drains. Drain clearing is available as a standalone service which addresses everything below ground or an add-on to your regular gutter cleaning service which will include your entire gutter system above and below ground.
If I don't have visible evidence of a clog, do I need to have my underground gutter drains maintained?
As with many home care services, routine maintenance of your underground drains significantly improves the lifespan of your underground gutter drains by clearing out debris before it has a chance to build up into a total blockage. Keeping the system flowing at all times through annual flushing, prevents any surface level flooding and means you are never left with the urgent need to clear a clog after a heavy rain event.
All of these images show clogged and backed up underground drains. With nowhere to go, the water is pooling right at the underground connection point and along the edge of the home. This causes unsightly mud puddles, slippery spots in your yard and patios, can lead to moss and algae build up over time or potentially damage the foundation of the home causing leaks, cracks or integrity issues over time.