A roof directs water downward, but it's the gutter and downspout system that carries the water away from the house. Taking some time to maintain, repair, and protect downspouts and gutters can extend the life your roof drainage system and save you a lot of money. Keeping the gutters properly cleaned will do a lot to extend the life of your gutters. Check your gutters and downspouts just before the spring rains occur and again in the fall when leaves, limbs, and other debris that might cause problems begin to land in your gutter system. The gutters should be tight against the fascias and should slope toward the downspouts. You can correct low spots on the run of the gutters by adjusting the hangers clogged gutters and downspouts can be a big problem. And don’t forget to clean and maintain the downspouts!
The best gutter system in the world cannot function well unless every downspout is clear and working correctly. You should examine your downspouts at the same time you are checking your gutters and gutter protection system. Also remember that if the downspouts drain into an underground tile system make a careful check at the point where the downspout enters the underground tiling. Be sure the gutter downspout system is cemented firmly into place with no back up or overflow at this point. If you are not sure that the downspout and underground drainage system is flowing freely, use a plumber's or electrician's snake to clean any blockage.
Gutter downspouts that direct water around the foundation of the house can cause many water problems. In some cases it may be necessary to add extra downspout lengths to carry the water away from the house. If this is the case an extra length can be attached and the downspout continued as far away from the house as needed. Adding extra downspout length is done by simply crimping the end of the material with a pair of pliers so one piece of downspout will slip easily into another.
In most cases the gutter downspouts empty to a splash block so make sure these splash blocks are large enough and high enough to take the water safely away from the foundation of the house. Just as with your gutters and gutter protection system check the splash blocks twice a year to make sure they are not broken or deteriorating. Another option is a retractable downspout sheet that extends when filled with water and then rolls back up when the water is emptied. These do the same thing as a standard downspout but they avoid the clutter of the gutter downspout that extends into the yard.
The gutter system, complete with gutter protection, is a very important part of your home and it needs to be properly cared for so it continues to work. Don’t forget to maintain this very important part of your investment!
