Most homeowners never think about gutter health. The only situation when people think about them is when something bad happens. Gutters are very important since they channel the water away from home foundation. Without them, the house’s foundation is going to be damaged. You do not want this to happen so prevention is absolutely necessary.
The good news is that keeping gutters clean and free of all debris is not at all difficult. You just have to stick to a maintenance schedule. Summit Gutter Systems in Denver, CO or a similar company can easily be contacted to help but you should also know about the following common gutter problems.
Clogging is by far the most common of all gutter problems. As the gutters are clogged, drainage will be improper and overflowing will happen during rainstorms. Since the water cannot pass through it will start causing foundation problems.
If you want to keep gutters free of all debris, a maintenance program with 2 cleaning sessions per year is usually enough. Based on climate, this can vary but you should at least clear gutters during late autumn and during spring, usually March or April. Gutter covers should be installed in the event you have to deal with way too much debris.
When gutters get clogged up with debris and standing water, you have to deal with extra problems like sagging due to debris weight. Normally, the cause for this is having loose hangers that pull out as extra weight cannot be held. Tightening screws tends to solve this problem but if hangers are being spaced, new ones have to be installed.
Whenever noticing water pouring down gutter’s middle area, there is a leak present. Holes and leaks easily happen and can be fixed in just minutes by a professional with gutter sealant. A large hole does need to be patched though. You can find patching kits at hardware stores, with indications being easy to follow. The only thing you have to be aware of is that you need to use the exact same material as that of the gutter when you patch holes. Failure to do this will lead to erosion appearing.
There are different things that can cause gutter damage, with the weather being the main culprit. As a windstorm or heavy rainstorm happens, the gutter will be knocked down or can become damaged. Fixing the gutter is simple in most cases as rehanging should do the trick but some sections do have to be replaced. Not much can be done to prevent such situations, except checking the gutters and making sure they are properly installed.
Water has to flow properly and this can only happen when gutters are correctly pitched (angled). Slopes have to be at a right angle, a minimum of a quarter of an inch for 10 gutter feet. When you believe gutters are not properly pitched, use a ladder and inspect the gutters after rainstorms. If standing water is present, the pitch has to be adjusted.
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