# Buried downspout clogged? (Kansas City)

> Premier Gutters KC - NDS-certified drainage contractor. (816) 469-9563. Published pricing.

**Short answer:** Three tells - water burping out of downspout seams in rain, an emitter that never pops, one corner overflowing while the rest behaves. Check the cheap stuff first: a matted emitter lid or blocked grate causes a surprising share of "failed" lines. Outlet clear but water still backs up? The run is blocked: we pressure-flush until flow returns; if flushing won't restore it, the pipe is crushed or rooted and the section gets replaced ($300-$700 per downspout run, published).

## Confirm it yourself in 10 minutes
1. Find and rinse the outlet (emitter lid, grate)
2. Garden hose into the downspout adapter: strong exit = line fine; backup at the seams = blocked run
3. Thin single-wall corrugated or pre-1980s clay tile? The clog is a symptom; the pipe is the disease

Prevention: guards or clean gutters upstream, rinse the outlet yearly, continuous downhill slope.
Full page: https://premiergutterskc.com/answers/buried-downspout-clogged-kansas-city/