If you have noticed your rain gutters aren’t doing their job properly, you should take immediate action to remedy the problem. Though it may not look like much, these tools are the first line of defense to protect your home against the elements. Gutters that overflow can harm your beautiful landscaping and cause costly damage to your home. The last thing any homeowner wants is to end up with thousands of dollars in damage to their home’s structure due to a problem that could have been fixed with a little elbow grease or for far less money.
If you think you have a problem with overflowing gutters, consider these ways to identify the problem and fix it before it causes further harm.
- Debris-clogged downspouts. Your gutters alone are not the only place you may have a blockage that can cause overflow and damage to your home. The downspouts that transport rainwater from the gutters to the ground often fill up with leaves, twigs, and other debris that render them virtually useless. Backups in your gutter system then cause the water to run down the walls of your home and damage the house and landscaping. To fix this issue, remove the downspouts and clear them of debris. If this is a persistent problem, consider installing oversized downspouts that don’t clog as easily.
- Lack of sufficient spouting. There are times when homes simply don’t have enough gutters and downspouts installed to properly transport water from weather elements away from the house. If your home doesn’t have gutters on all sides of the roof, it can put too much pressure on the existing gutters and cause them to fail. Water overflows your gutters because there is nowhere else for it to go. If this is an issue for your home, it can be remedied by adding additional gutters and downspouts to handle the abundance of rainfall your home receives.
- Too much rain. This gutter issue depends on the particular climate your home is located in. If you live in a place that receives more rain than average, it may be necessary to increase the capacity of your gutter and downspout systems to handle the amount of rain you receive.
- Gutters clogged with debris. Cleaning out your rain gutters should be a part of every homeowner’s spring and autumn maintenance task list. Gutters fill with debris from trees and materials that are stirred up by high winds. Reduce the amount of debris that collects in your gutters by installing gutter guards or cleaning your gutters thoroughly several times a year. Failing to do so can result in costly damage to your home’s interior walls, siding, fascia, and foundation as water backs up and runs down the wall behind the gutters.
If your home’s gutters don’t seem to be doing their job, follow these steps to improve the drainage off your roof. When you need new gutters and downspouts installed, you can always rely on Mr. Roof to handle the job. Call us today at (800) 884-9760 for an estimate.
