How to take apart round metal downspout
#1
12-25-20, 02:29 PM
How to take apart round metal downspout
Picture: overall
Picture: close
I think my downspout is full of crud and/or water, as it's leaking out at the top elbow. I am able to snake in a thin hose the entire length of the downspout, but it didn't clear out whatever the problem is. It could be a blockage in the underground drain down below, but I don't know how to access it.
What's the proper way to disconnect it to inspect? It is attached to the wall with a bracket, which is easy enough to remove. But I'm not sure what's holding the downspout together, as I don't see an obvious set screw. Not sure this style is pressure fit or it uses some kind of adhesive. If I shake it or try to lift, it doesn't budge at all. It could just be rusted as it's 10+ yrs old, but I figured I'd ask before doing something dumb.
Advice?
Picture: close
I think my downspout is full of crud and/or water, as it's leaking out at the top elbow. I am able to snake in a thin hose the entire length of the downspout, but it didn't clear out whatever the problem is. It could be a blockage in the underground drain down below, but I don't know how to access it.
What's the proper way to disconnect it to inspect? It is attached to the wall with a bracket, which is easy enough to remove. But I'm not sure what's holding the downspout together, as I don't see an obvious set screw. Not sure this style is pressure fit or it uses some kind of adhesive. If I shake it or try to lift, it doesn't budge at all. It could just be rusted as it's 10+ yrs old, but I figured I'd ask before doing something dumb.
Advice?
#2
12-25-20, 02:36 PM
Group Moderator
Can't tell much from the photos. They don't show many fasteners. Looks like on the closeup photo there is a screw on the right. The one all the rust is streaming down from. Then remove the wall brackets... might be a fastener hidden behind the top one. And at the top where it connects to the gutter, looks like one there. Take that one out first.
#3
12-25-20, 03:45 PM
Member
Looks to small anyway, I'd remove the whole thing and then you could try running the hose down the line near the ground to see if it backs up.
Then replace the old down spout with normal down spout.
Then replace the old down spout with normal down spout.
#6
12-26-20, 05:02 PM
Thanks for all the help.
I took it apart and the drain was indeed full of water: picture
I vacuum'd out the water and it goes a good 6+ feet down: picture
Crud at the bottom is tiny pebbles from my old tar/gravel roof (since replaced): picture
I'm guessing the drain is full of those tiny pebbles? My snake couldn't make the 90-degree bend. I could try to vacuum what's there, but I don't know how much more there is. It started raining so I hurriedly put the gutter back in place and brought my equipment back inside.
Any advice? I'm considering buying a longer (15ft?) skinny vac hose extension and seeing how much crud I can pull up.
I took it apart and the drain was indeed full of water: picture
I vacuum'd out the water and it goes a good 6+ feet down: picture
Crud at the bottom is tiny pebbles from my old tar/gravel roof (since replaced): picture
I'm guessing the drain is full of those tiny pebbles? My snake couldn't make the 90-degree bend. I could try to vacuum what's there, but I don't know how much more there is. It started raining so I hurriedly put the gutter back in place and brought my equipment back inside.
Any advice? I'm considering buying a longer (15ft?) skinny vac hose extension and seeing how much crud I can pull up.
Last edited by brygx; 12-26-20 at 05:43 PM.
