Cleaning out your gutters is more than just a tedious chore it is necessary in order to avoid costly damage to your home.
Clogged gutters water in house.
Drainage off your roof can bring about water infiltration into your house in several ways.
Where s the gutter clogged.
Many of these pipes are placed underground to avoid the eyesore of pipes laying on the ground next to your house.
An inch of rainfall on a typical 1 000 square foot roof sends over 600 gallons of water into the gutters and downspouts.
Since curb appeal is a huge determining factor in your property value this goes much deeper than simple matters of appearance.
Left untended gutters and downspouts get so clogged with debris that they re rendered useless.
When you reach the top opening of the downspout ask a helper down below to turn on the water.
Gutter hangers and spikes often slip free from the fascia landing in the gutter.
Often this item is bent or out of place.
Eventually water will start to seep into your home causing further damage to the interior.
Clogged gutters can cause water to flow down the sides of the home and pool around its foundation.
If you see standing water or mildew near the foundation it can indicate that the gutters are clogged or there could be a defect in the gutter system.
If water flows out of the bottom carrying leaf debris with it your job is complete.
Look for clogs and remove debris to get the water flowing.
If a home has wood siding clogged gutters can also cause water to overflow out of the gutter system and down the sides of the home.
Your gutters move a lot of water.
Clogged gutters cause water to spill out and wash away your plants.
This is the most common problem of all.
Photo courtesy of angie s list member jeanine l.
If you haven t cleaned your gutters yet do this first finishing with unclogging the downspout.
The fact that clogged gutters cause water damage inside the house may not be immediately obvious but it s true.
The downspout cage a wire strainer designed to trap debris while allowing water to flow through is located where the downspout intersects the gutter.
An underground drain pipe can become clogged in a variety of ways including leaf buildup or damage to the pipe itself.
You may also notice puddles in your lawn and will need to re plant grass that is too damaged to continuously grow.
A rain gutter drain pipe is usually installed to carry water away from your house.
The fascia boards that hold the gutter system are often made of wood.
When gutters clog and fill with water the boards start to deteriorate and rot.
The excess weight of leaves twigs and standing water can also make them sag and pull away from the fascia.
Without the gutter or with a defective or clogged gutter the water would simply fall right next to the house and form a pool near the foundation.
These obstructions catch leaves and twigs.
Climb a sturdy ladder with the end of a garden hose in one hand.
Replace or touch up the paint on the damaged section of the gutter.