How to unblock your gutters!
What you need
A brush
A long hose pipe
It’s important to keep your gutters clear, otherwise metal gutters will rust away and you’ll have water pouring down and causing all types of problems for you. It’s not too tricky to do them yourself, and it’s essential to get it sorted if you have a tree overhanging your property to avoid an expensive repair…
Step 1
Get a ladder! Make sure it’s safe, if you don’t feel confident enough to do it then don’t take any risks and get professional help.
Try not to rest your ladder on the gutter if you can avoid it.
Clear the gutter of leaves and dirt, get rid of the fine dirt too otherwise it will only speed up the build up and you’ll have to clean them more often.
Step 2
Get the hose and turn it on. Shove the hose down the pipe, if the pipe has bends then try to manoeuvre the pipe around the bends to get it nice and clear. Don’t give up immediately, a garden hose will get around most gutter pipe bends with a bit of help. The leaves should come out of the bottom of the pipe as the water pressure forces it clear.
If you find that the hose doesn’t clear the blockage then you may need to take a section of the gutter out to clear it. If you have metal pipes then this becomes more difficult as you may need to cut the pipe, if you’re unsure then it’s best to get it done by a professional.
How to unblock a toilet!
It's not a fun job but someone has to do it...
What you need
A large plunger
Powerful drain un-blocker
thin hosing (for last ditch efforts)
Step 1
Stop flushing it and turn off the water supply (see our article – click here). Bail out as much water as you can with a bucket. Get the plunger out and place the rubber end over the hole at the bottom of the toilet, and pump the handle up and downwards as if your life depended on it, creating suction in the pipe. This usually fixes the problem, just remember, don't flush whatever has appeared without breaking it up first. I know it's grim but you could just block it up again...
Step 2
If the evil deed is still offending then it's time for the thin hosing... it needs to be long and bendy but tough, like very flexible garden hose, or hosing from a local hardware shop. Basically shove the hose down the toilet and try to get it round the bend to break up the blockage. Don't be too aggressive but work at it to get it right round.
If you still find it is blocked then it could be a messy job, so probably best to get a professional in.
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