6 Common Gutter Problems

Gutters play an essential role in protecting your building. They convey rainfall a safe distance from your building, protecting the structure of your building.

Keeping your rain gutters unclogged and in good condition with Springfield Gutter Services can prevent rainfall damage to your property and will help to prevent water damaging the foundations, leaks developing and issues with damp.

There are several commonplace rain gutter complications to look out for that may prevent them from working as they are designed to and safeguarding your building. These include:

• Clogged Gutters
• Joint Leaks and Holes
• Broken Gutters
• Bent Gutters
• Improperly Pitched Rain Gutters
• Downspout Faults

Some properties might not have any rain gutters, or they could have removed segments or have inadequate gutters installed. If this is the case, new gutters should be fitted professionally to make sure they are adequate for the building and well installed.

Blocked Gutters

Blocked gutters are the most common gutter issue as rain gutters may be clogged by many debris. Anything that blows onto the roof such as leaves twigs and even rubbish will be washed into rain gutters. On top of that seeds that either blow in or get deposited by bird droppings may result in weeds taking root in your gutters. As well as birds and other pests setting up home.

When detritus builds up it could easily cause a stoppage which could lead to rain gutter problems as well as damage to your roof and foundations.

Luckily fixing the fault is fairly simple and you can generally prevent the issue from happening with regular checks and proper maintenance. If your rain gutters are clogged you need to get up to the gutter and get rid of the leaves and rubbish or ask a gutter service company instead. And you ideally should be checking and clearing any detritus bi-annually in spring and fall.

Joint Leaks and Holes

Joint leaks and holes are another common fault, especially for homes that do not have seamless gutters. Gutters are inclined to come apart at the joins if they get blocked and subjected to greater weight.

Nonetheless, leaks and holes can form in seamless gutters and could also occur where the gutter has split or more routinely where hardware has come loose.

Mending joins in your rain gutter is best done with rivets rather than glue or sealant due to the fact that rivets provide a stronger and longer-lasting solution. It’s possible to do this yourself if you have the tools or you may hire a gutter maintenance firm.

Loose or Broken Rain Gutters

Gutters can easily come away from the building over time. This could happen for various reasons including clogging and ice dams. If you suspect your rain gutters have come away from the building or become impaired in any way this is a fault that should be fixed as quickly as possible as damaged rain gutters could cause significant damage to your building.

Ensuring you check your gutters frequently can ensure you notice any loose or damaged rain gutters as soon as possible. Making repairs will revolve around the issue but accessories can normally be either tightened or replaced and damaged sections of rain gutter could be taken out and replaced either by a professional or by taking a trip to your local hardware store.

Sagging Rain Gutters

Bending warping

Gutters may easily start to bend or droop over time especially if they are not maintained. And it’s not just the gutter itself that could start to deteriorate, so could the accessories used to fix them to the property.

This may result in gutters pulling away from the side of the building and not working as they should as rain just falls down the side of the property rather than flowing into the rain gutters.

Broadly speaking once gutters start to bend and droop the damaged lengths should be replaced. You may either do this yourself providing you have the time and the correct tools alternatively you could hire a professional gutter maintenance firm.

Incorrectly Installed Rain Gutters

On top of needing to be unblocked and well-maintained rain gutters also require proper pitching so that they can drain. This means they require an adequate incline to ensure the rainfall can drain effectively.

Ideally gutters should pitch about ¼ of an inch for each 10 feet. Too much and the gutters are unable to operate at full capacity, too little and rain could pool and remain stagnant leading to insects, or overflow causing additional issues for the dwelling.

Incorrectly installed gutters need to be adjusted to ensure they have the correct incline and can operate efficiently. This could be a time-consuming task so you may wish to hire a gutter installation company.

Downspout Problems

Downspouts are an important element of your gutter installation, as such they need to be kept free of debris and unclogged just like the rest of your rain gutter installation. Downpipes also need to be directed an adequate distance away from the foundations of your property as otherwise, you could find rain pooling at the base of your property leading to flooding and potentially structural damage.

Gutters are intended to transport rainfall a safe distance from your home however they may only do this when the downspouts are correctly installed and adequately maintained. If you suspect your downpipe could be blocked you should clear it or have it cleaned as soon as possible and check that rainfall is being channelled an adequate distance away from the base of your building.

When completing any rain gutter maintenance, inspection or repairs you must always ensure you are safe. making sure you have gloves and protective eyewear is strongly advised and proper ladder safety is a must.

Rain gutter maintenance is often considered time consuming and unappealing meaning it often gets put off however, this could result in serious problems. Ensure you schedule gutter inspections and maintenance to preserve all aspects of your property. Hiring a gutter installation firm may feel expensive but may save you huge amounts of money in the longer term.