A Guide To Repairing a Plastic Gutter Downpipe

Guttering is your home’s first line of defence against the elements and helps to guide water away from walls and foundations. If your guttering system develops a leak, it can potentially cause serious damage to your home. This blog will look at how downpipes become damaged and the best way to repair them.

Why Should You Repair Broken Downpipes

As mentioned above, your guttering system, including your downpipes, is there to channel excess water away from your home. If either become damaged, you run the risk of water getting into your walls and foundations which, over time, can cause serious damage.

How To Unblock Downpipe

The first approach you should take when dealing with a leaking downpipe is to clean it. Blockages caused by debris, birds’ nests, and general dirt is the most common cause of damage and leakage in a downpipe. Our ‘How to clean and maintain your PVC gutters’ blog includes details on how to clear and clean your downpipe.

What Can Cause a Downpipe to Break

There are many reasons why your downpipe may break, but below are the most common causes of damage.

Dirt

Build-up of dirt and debris can cause blockages in your downpipe. These blockages prevent water from flowing freely to the drain below, instead causing it to force its way out of the downpipe in any way it can – usually by taking advantage of small gaps, cracks and holes.

General wear and tear

Downpipes are exposed to every element, from hot sun to ice. As such, over time they will gradually wear out. This is particularly true for older guttering systems which may not be made from the same high-quality PVC that is used today.

Expansion and contraction

During extreme temperatures your downpipe may expand and contract. During this movement, the joints in your downpipe will come apart. When they contract back together, they can drag dirt into the seals. Over time, this dirt can build up and compromise the integrity of the seal, which in turn will cause leaks.

Damage

Being on the outside of your home, downpipes are susceptible to damage. A heavy snow fall, extreme build up of heavy debris, a ladder being leant against it, or children’s ball games, can all cause damage to your downpipes.

Whilst cleaning your downpipe will usually help to prevent a leak, if the problem persists it may mean considering a more permanent solution, such as a repair or replacement.

How to Repair a Downpipe

Repairing a downpipe is relatively easy and can be tackled yourself.

• As mentioned above, the first approach is to clean your downpipe. Whilst this may not always resolve the problem, it does provide you with the perfect opportunity to replace the damaged section if you choose to. As our cleaning guide suggests, you will have to dismantle part of the downpipe to access the blockage. This is the perfect time to swap out the damaged section and replace it with a new one before reinstalling the downpipe.

• If you do not want to replace part of your down pipe, you can attempt to repair the leak with waterproof tape:

• Firstly, clean the damaged part well, removing any dirt or loose paint.

  • Wrap the waterproof tape around the damaged section, ensuring the crack or hole is completely covered and the ends of the tape overlap.

  • Ensure that all air bubbles are smoothed out and the tape lies completely flat.

  • Use a hose or bucket of water to flush out your downpipe and ensure that the leak has been repaired.

How to Prevent Future Breaks in Downpipes

Prevention is always better than cure. Consistent cleaning of your guttering system and downpipe will help prevent blockages – and any leaks resulting from dirt and debris build up - from developing. Also, checking your downpipes on a regular basis will help you identify and resolve any issues before they develop into more series problems.

Advice for Downpipe Breakages

Overall, maintaining and repairing your downpipes should be straightforward, but here are a few things you should remember:

• If working at height, on or around your guttering and downpipe, always stay safe. Use a sturdy, sound ladder, and ask a friend, family member, or colleague to hold the ladder at the bottom.

• Prevention is always better than cure, so keep a constant eye on your guttering so you can identify any problems before they develop.

• Regular cleaning will help keep your downpipes free from dirt and prevent problematic build ups.

• If a leak does occur, you can try using waterproof tape to repair the issue. Always ensure you use the correct tape and cover the entire crack or hole well.

Replacing the damaged section of your downpipe will always be the best solution. Ensure you buy the correct part, which fits your existing guttering system, by talking to the experts.

Explore Our Range Of Downpipes

Here at National Plastics we have a wide range of downpipes in a variety of colours and sizes. Take a look today, or call our friendly, expert team on 0800 22 77 77 for help and guidance on how to repair your downpipe.