What You Should Know About Gutter Maintenance

In areas that experience heavy rainfall, properly maintained drainage gutters for rain runoff are vital. They form a path for the collected rainwater to drain off without pooling or storing in sections of the house or roof and thus causing problems like seepage, mold, mulch, paint fading, and inundation.

Overflowing gutters which are not functioning properly and failing to channel the excess water need to be immediately cleaned and cleared by gutter cleaning services.

However, do you know how to tell when your gutter is in need of maintenance and cleaning work? What are the signs and causes of gutter overflow? Let‘s take a look.

Causes

1. Debris

Debris and materials like leaves, wood, and branches, which clog up and jam gutters are the number one reason for overflowing gutters. They create a blockage and constrict the water channel, hampering proper water flow down the gutter. Moreover, while most gutters are small, some are big enough for small animals like squirrels or birds to take up residence there. Their abandoned nests could also be causing the blockage.

2. Gutter Positioning

For proper water runoff, your gutters need to be positioned correctly. This means elements like the pitch and tilt of your gutters. If they are too steep or conversely too flat then proper runoff will not occur and water will move either at too fast or too slow. Both can cause the problem of overflow.

3. Gutter Size

With changing climate patterns on a global level, it might very well be the case that your old gutter size proves insufficient for heavier rainfall. You will need to get them replaced with larger gutters so they can accommodate the heavy rainfall.

Signs

· Overflow

If you see water gushing down the sides of a gutter then it means it is not working properly. This is probably the result of a clog in the gutter which causes the water to overflow like that.

· Gutter Stress

If your gutter is clogged and being weighed down by internal debris, which is also storing water, then the effects will begin to show sooner or later. You might see it bending or becoming loose and separating from the house wall due to the internal weight weighing upon it. Look at the connecting points and nails of the gutter with the house – that is where the stress will be most evident.

· Pooling Water

Look out for pooling water around your property, especially near the land around the gutter and your basement. This is because heavy downpour will inundate the soil and cause water to pool. This is a telltale sign of water not going into the drain through the gutter.

You may also want to check your basement and inspect its walls for leakage, seepage, and water pooling, which are all common as the excess water travels through the soil and into the walls of your basement.

Conclusion

If you spot any of these signs or problems then you should immediately call a professional for gutter and siding repair. This is because if left untreated, water damage can be quite costly to fix and repair.  If you are looking for a professional gutter company, give D&H Window Cleaning a call today!  We can be reached at (586) 726-2340!  We hope to hear from you soon!