How to clear gutters safely
Blocked gutters cause damp, stains and rot. Here's how to check and clear them — and when not to climb a ladder.
Signs your gutters are blocked
Water spilling over the edge in rain, green streaks down the wall, plants growing in the gutter, or damp patches inside on upper walls.
Clearing a single-storey gutter
Use a stable ladder on firm, level ground with someone footing it. Scoop debris into a bucket, never lean out sideways, and flush with a hose to check the downpipe flows.
Clearing a blocked downpipe
Work from the bottom first. A plumber's rod or hose pushed up from the base usually shifts leaf blockages.