St. Louis is no stranger to rain, water damage, and flooding. In fact, average states in the US receive approximately 13-inches of rainfall every Spring.

Therefore, downspout maintenance is pretty important! The trouble is that most homeowners are a bit clueless when it comes to maintaining their downspouts. Most think that gutter cleaning and roof inspections are enough, but that’s not the case; downspouts are entirely different entities that need their own maintenance routine. Read on to find out the proper way to maintain your downspouts.

3-Step Maintenance Process

When done regularly, the maintenance process takes only 15 minutes. Simple, right? We think so!

Step 1: As you’re cleaning your gutters, determine where your downspout is distributing water; water should always flow away from your home. If you find that the water is pooling up around your home, or in one specific area, your home is at a great flooding risk. Don’t panic though, this is a simple fix – check out step two.

Step 2: If you’ve completed step one and found that your water is pooling up, or is collecting less than five feet away from your home, you’ll simply need to re-direct the water with gutter extensions. Located at your local hardware store, gutter extensions run about $10 per foot, and are super simple to install. See, we told you it was a simple fix!

Step 3: There are three common types of downspout extensions: manual hinged extensions, automatic extensions, and underground extensions. Choose the extension you prefer and make sure that your existing downspout is extended at least 5-6 feet away from your home.

About Woodard Cleaning & Restoration

Woodard Cleaning & Restoration was founded in 1946 by Earl and Nancy Woodard. Today, the company is run by 3rd generation, Justin Woodard. Located in St. Louis, Missouri, Woodard services the greater metro area (Illinois, St. Charles County, Jefferson County, St. Louis County, and many more). Woodard is proud to serve as the preferred provider for cleaning & restoration services. Our cleaning services include carpet, hard surface, furniture, and rug cleaning for both residential and commercial properties. We also provide water, fire, board-up, storm and smoke restoration services for residential and commercial clients. For for information or questions submit a form online or call us at 314-227-3932.

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