Blocked Gutters in Dublin: How to Clean & Unblock Them (and Stop It Happening Again)

How to tell if your gutters are blocked

You don't need to go up a ladder to check. Next time it rains, stand back from the house and watch.

Water spilling over the edge instead of running to the downpipe is the clearest sign. Other things to look for are a gutter still full of water a day after the rain stops, a section that has started to sag, or green streaks and damp patches on the wall underneath.

If you can see grass or weeds growing out of the gutter, like the one below, it hasn't been cleared in a long time.

One more check: during a heavy shower, look at the bottom of the downpipe. If very little water is coming out, something is stopping it higher up.

What to do if your gutters are blocked

Start from the ground. Next time it rains, note where the water is escaping and take a photo or short video on your phone. Have a look at the drain at the bottom of each downpipe too, and lift off any leaves sitting on the grate.

Don't climb onto the roof, don't use a ladder in wet or windy weather, and don't push a pressure washer hose into the downpipe. That can split joints or pack the blockage in tighter.

If water keeps overflowing, is getting into the house, or part of the gutter looks loose, it's time to get it looked at properly.

What causes blocked gutters in Dublin?

Leaves get most of the blame, and in autumn they're a big part of it. Homes near mature trees in places like Rathfarnham, Templeogue and Castleknock can fill a gutter in a few weeks.

On most of our jobs, though, the main problem is moss. Our mild, wet weather is perfect for it. It grows on the roof tiles all year, and heavy rain washes it down in clumps. Once it's in the gutter, it holds water and packs down into a thick, heavy sludge.

Older concrete tiles also shed a fine grit, and the odd bird's nest doesn't help. Before long the outlet into the downpipe blocks, and the water has nowhere to go.

If the gutter looks clear but water is still backing up, the problem may be in the downpipe. Our guide to blocked downpipes in Dublin explains how to tell.

Why blocked gutters are worse in winter

From November to February, everything that blocks gutters happens at once. The leaves are down, the moss is growing, and we get rain for days at a time, often with storms coming in off the Atlantic.

A blocked gutter can't cope with that. In a heavy downpour it overflows within minutes, and the water runs straight down the walls. In winter the walls don't get a chance to dry out between showers, so repeated overflow can lead to damp inside. It's often one of the first things we check when someone mentions a damp patch on an outside wall.

Cold nights bring their own problems. Water sitting in a blocked gutter freezes, and the ice can split joints and pull brackets loose. Water dripping onto the path or front step freezes too, which is a real slip risk for anyone coming to the door.

Left all winter, overflow also rots the timber fascia boards behind the gutter. A clean now costs far less than fixing that in spring.

How we clear blocked gutters

Most of our gutter cleaning is done with a high-reach gutter vacuum from the ground, so nobody has to stand on your roof. That matters a lot on a wet winter's day. For stubborn clumps or a close look at a joint, we use ladders when it's safe to.

If we find damage, like a split joint or a sagging section, we'll tell you straight. Our gutter repairs service can often fix it on the same visit.

Working through the winter

We keep working right through the winter, because that's when most people need us. We only move a job if high winds or ice make it unsafe, and if that happens we'll ring you and rebook for the next safe day.

Where it's needed, we also clear the roof valleys, where moss and leaves build up and slow the water on its way to the gutter.

Should you clean your gutters yourself?

On a bungalow or single-storey extension, you can if you're careful: a solid ladder on level ground, someone holding it, gloves on, and no leaning out. On a two-storey house, we'd recommend getting someone in. A gutter full of wet moss is heavier and messier than most people expect.

If you hire someone, ask if they're fully insured and whether they'll check the downpipes too. A cleaned gutter with a blocked outlet will overflow again with the next heavy rain.

How to stop gutters blocking again

Regular cleaning is the simplest fix. For most Dublin homes, once a year in late autumn, after the leaves have fallen, is enough. If you're near big trees or the roof is heavy with moss, a second clean in spring is worth it.

If you've a lot of trees nearby, gutter guards or covers can help. They keep most leaves out, but they aren't maintenance-free. Fine moss and grit still build up on top, so they need checking now and then.

Where moss is the main problem, treating it on the roof stops it washing down every winter. Cutting back overhanging branches helps too.

If your gutters still overflow in heavy rain after they've been cleaned, have a look at our guide on gutters overflowing in heavy rain.