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Why Do My Gutters Overflow?

Why do my gutters overflow?

There are many ways that overflowing gutters may hurt your home. This circumstance can cause water to pool in your eaves and back up behind your siding. When winter weather arrives, clogged gutters can cause ice dams and create costly problems for your roof. Everything from your interior walls and ceilings to your landscaping can be affected when your gutters are not in their optimal working condition. If you have noticed that your gutters are overflowing and you don’t know why, consider these common issues that cause gutter backups.

Clogging caused by tree debris

One of the biggest causes of clogged gutters is a buildup of leaves, twigs, and debris from the trees around your home. Cleaning gutters out should always be included in your home maintenance checklist, as it doesn’t take long for these materials to build up. In addition to tree debris, it is common to find plastic shopping bags, shingle granules, and other waste in your gutters and downspouts.

Gutter size

If you live in a particularly rainy climate and you have a large roof, the gutters on your house may be too small to handle the amount of rain they need to divert away from your home. If your gutters are clean and you have no other explanation for overflow, you may need to speak with a contractor about installing appropriately sized gutters.

Poor positioning of gutters

If you have a problem with overflowing gutters, one of the things you will want to check is their pitch and tilt. Gutters that tilt away from the house at an incorrect angle often overflow during heavy storms. The pitch of your gutters as they lead to the downspout can also be too steep or not steep enough, at times. This can cause your gutters to overflow, as the water may flow too quickly, or gather in one place and not flow at all.

Fixing the issue

A trusted contractor will be able to advise you on gutter replacement or repositioning if the pitch or tilt is off. If your issue is related to the accumulation of debris, however, you should be able to correct the problem on your own. Your gutters should be cleaned out at least once a year. You can use a nozzle attachment on your leaf blower, or a power hose to blast the debris out of the gutters and downspouts, but many homeowners find that it is less messy to clean the gutter out by hand. You may also consider installing gutter guards that prevent leaves and other materials from collecting in your gutters. Gutter guards are a relatively inexpensive investment that saves you time and effort when it comes to maintaining your gutters.

If you have a problem with overflowing gutters, and can’t seem to figure out why, it is time to call in professional gutter contractors to help. The trusted contractors at Mr. Roof have the experience and knowledge to diagnose your problem correctly and find a solution. Reach out to our team today at (800) 884-9760 to find out how we can help.