Conservatory gutters are best cleaned from the ground with a vacuum on long poles, which reach the gutter without anyone leaning a ladder on the frame or stepping on the roof. They block more often than you’d think because they catch leaves, moss and grit sliding off the main house roof above.
Why do conservatory gutters block so often?
Because they sit under the main roof. Moss, grit and leaves that slide or blow off the house roof land on the conservatory and wash down into its gutter. Conservatory gutters are often small and shallow, and they usually have only one or two outlets. They fill up fast.
They’re also easy to forget. People look up at the main gutters, but the conservatory gutter is at the far side, away from the house, and you can’t see into it from the garden.
What happens when a conservatory gutter blocks?
Water overflows onto the dwarf wall or the patio. On some conservatories it runs back towards the frame and can find its way through seals. Standing water in the gutter turns green and grows algae, and the glass or polycarbonate roof gets dirty faster because water can’t drain off it.
Can I stand on my conservatory roof to clean the gutter?
No. Glass and polycarbonate roofs aren’t designed to take a person’s weight, and falls through conservatory roofs cause serious injuries every year. Don’t lean a ladder on the conservatory frame or gutter either; it can bend the frame or crack the gutter.
How are conservatory gutters cleaned safely?
From the ground with a gutter vacuum. The poles reach the conservatory gutter from the garden, and the nozzle sits in the gutter without touching the roof. A camera on the pole shows what’s in the gutter and confirms it’s clear. Nothing leans on the frame and nobody climbs on the roof.
We clear conservatory gutters as part of a gutter clean.
What about the gutter above the conservatory?
The house gutter above a conservatory is hard to reach with a ladder, because the conservatory is in the way. The vacuum poles reach over the conservatory roof to the house gutter, so it can be cleared without anyone stepping on the conservatory. That’s one of the biggest advantages of the vacuum method.
How often should conservatory gutters be cleaned?
Once a year with the main gutters, and twice if the house roof is mossy or there are trees nearby. If you see water overflowing onto the patio or the conservatory roof staying wet, it’s blocked.
What about lean-to and flat-roofed extensions?
The same applies. Lean-to roofs, flat-roofed extensions and bay roofs catch debris from the roof above. Their gutters are often small and hidden. We check them with the camera and clear them from the ground.
Do conservatory gutters need special care?
A little. They’re often lighter than house gutters and fixed to the conservatory frame rather than a fascia board. We work gently, keep the nozzle in the gutter and don’t lean anything on the frame.
Should I clean the conservatory roof too?
Conservatory roof cleaning is a separate job. Clearing the gutter helps the roof stay cleaner, because water drains off properly. If the roof is green, ask us about it.
What are the signs a conservatory gutter is blocked?
- Water spilling onto the dwarf wall or patio
- Green growth in the gutter or along the roof edge
- Leaves or moss visible on the roof sliding towards the gutter
- Water staying on the roof after rain
- Damp or stains on the inside of the frame
How do I book?
Tell us you have a conservatory when you ask for a quote. Send a photo if you can. We’ll include the conservatory gutters and the house gutter above it. Get a free quote.
Why does my conservatory roof go green?
Partly because water sits on it. When the conservatory gutter is blocked, rain drains off the roof slowly and leaves a damp film where algae grows. Debris from the main roof adds to it. Clearing the gutter helps the roof stay cleaner for longer, but a roof that’s already green needs washing as a separate job.
Is the box gutter between the house and conservatory a problem?
Some conservatories, especially larger ones and orangeries, have a box gutter along the house wall or between two roofs. Box gutters are flat-bottomed and collect a lot of debris from both sides. If they block, water can back up under the roof seals and leak inside. We check them with the camera and clear them where they can be reached safely from the ground.
Do you need to come inside the conservatory?
No. Everything is done from the garden. If a gutter can only be reached by going through the house, we’ll ask first and protect the floor.
What if my conservatory gutter leaks at a joint?
Conservatory gutters often have more joints and corners than house gutters, and their seals age the same way. Clearing the gutter sometimes stops a drip; if it doesn’t, the camera photo shows the joint so a conservatory specialist can fix it. Why is my gutter leaking at the joints?
Why is my conservatory gutter full of moss when I have no trees?
Because the moss comes from the house roof above. Clumps break off the tiles in rain and wind, roll down onto the conservatory roof and wash into its gutter. A conservatory under a mossy north-facing slope can fill faster than the house gutters themselves, even in a garden with no trees at all.
