Clearing a Blocked Downpipe
A downpipe that's dry in heavy rain, while the gutter overflows at the outlet, is blocked: usually leaves and moss at the top, a bird's nest, or silt at the bend at the bottom. It's cleared from the top, rodded, then flushed with a hose until it runs. With a gutter clean on a semi, €120 to €280 in Dublin.
Where it blocks, how it's cleared, and the gully at the bottom.
Free, no obligation. One local company prices it, not five.
- €120 to €280clean and flush, semi
- 4 placeswhere downpipes block
- Springwhen nests block outlets
Where downpipes block
- At the outlet: leaves and moss pack the top. The most common, and cleared with the gutter.
- A nest: birds build in outlets and hoppers in spring.
- At the bends: the swan neck under the eaves and the shoe at the bottom catch silt.
- At the gully: water backs up out of the drain at ground level.
How it's cleared
- The outlet is cleared from the gutter.
- The pipe is rodded from the top or the bottom.
- A hose runs through it until it runs clear.
- The gully at the bottom is cleared out by hand.
A cracked or crushed pipe is a repair: downpipe repairs in Dublin are on our sister site.
What it costs
| Job | Typical cost | What moves the price |
|---|---|---|
| Cleaned and the downpipes flushed, 3-bed semi | €120 to €280 | Blocked downpipes rodded and flushed |
| Gutter cleaning, 2 or 3-bed terrace or semi | €70 to €200 | Two or three sides, front and back |
| Gutter cleaning, 4-bed detached | €120 to €210 | All four sides, height |
Cleaning a house is at the reduced 13.5% VAT rate.
Birds and nests
Wild birds' nests in use are protected under the Wildlife Acts. If birds are nesting in an outlet in spring, wait until the young have left, then clear it.
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Gutter cleaning, explained
What it costs, how it's done, and how often.
Gutter cleaning costEvery house type. €70 to €200 for a terrace or semi.
How often to cleanOnce a year for most. Twice under trees.
Vacuum or by handFrom the ground or from a ladder: what each does better.
When to book itAfter the leaves are down, before the wettest weeks.
Apartments and estatesYearly contracts for management companies.Gutter cleaning in every part of Dublin
- Dublin 1 and 7159 mm of rain in October and November
- Dublin 2 and 4160 mm of rain in October and November
- Dublin 8160 mm of rain in October and November
- Pembroke162 mm of rain in October and November
- Rathmines165 mm of rain in October and November
- Ballyfermot162 mm of rain in October and November
- Cabra161 mm of rain in October and November
- Finglas166 mm of rain in October and November
- Artane160 mm of rain in October and November
- Clontarf158 mm of rain in October and November
- Donaghmede156 mm of rain in October and November
- Swords161 mm of rain in October and November
- Malahide155 mm of rain in October and November
- Balbriggan166 mm of rain in October and November
- Rush158 mm of rain in October and November
- Castleknock166 mm of rain in October and November
- Blanchardstown168 mm of rain in October and November
- Ongar171 mm of rain in October and November
- Lucan167 mm of rain in October and November
- Palmerstown164 mm of rain in October and November
- Clondalkin166 mm of rain in October and November
- Tallaght Central180 mm of rain in October and November
- Tallaght South196 mm of rain in October and November
- Firhouse194 mm of rain in October and November
- Rathfarnham175 mm of rain in October and November
- Dún Laoghaire171 mm of rain in October and November
- Blackrock174 mm of rain in October and November
- Stillorgan182 mm of rain in October and November
- Dundrum180 mm of rain in October and November
- Sandyford202 mm of rain in October and November
- Killiney183 mm of rain in October and November
Plan your gutter cleaning
Four taps: the house, what's in the gutters, the trees and how often. You see our price and when to book it. Your number is only asked for at the end, if you want one gutter cleaning company that covers your part of Dublin to ring you.
Questions people ask
How do I know it's the downpipe, not the gutter?
Water spilling at the outlet while the pipe below is dry means the pipe or the outlet is blocked.
Can I clear it myself?
From the bottom, at ground level, with a hose and a rod, often yes. From the top, it's ladder work.
Why does my downpipe gurgle?
Usually a partial blockage or a gully that's backing up.
Get your gutters cleaned before the rain
One local gutter cleaning company. Free, no obligation. Nothing is booked until you say yes.