Gutters & Downspouts 101
Gutter Information for Sacramento Area Residents & Building Owners
Purpose:
To divert water that runs down the roof to an area that will not affect the building. Without a gutter system, rainwater will stream down the sides of a building creating pools of water on the ground. This will cause erosion in foundations. Proper drainage prevents this at the base of foundations. It also keeps basements and crawlspaces from flooding and preserves unprotected wood surfaces.
Problems:
Clogging in the gutter system prevents the smooth flow of water on its journey away from your home, causing it to spill over siding, wood trim, doors and windows. This will lead to a host of problems, mainly discoloration, staining, dry rot and mold growth.
Another serious problem of clogging is when dams form, causing water to back up into the sub roofing. This leads to dry rot in the sheathing and framing. It may also lead to interior damage of insulation, walls, and the ceiling. It is a major cause of leaks inside the home. Most homeowners insurance will not cover water damage caused by gutter or downspout failure. Leaking due to cracks, holes or sagging gutters will also lead to various problems and should be sealed or repaired as soon as they are discovered.
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Clogged gutters can lead to expensive repairs, so it's important to keep gutters cleaned. |
Gutter guards help keep gutters clean and your home protected. |
Prevention:
Just like regular dental check-ups and teeth cleaning help to keep your mouth healthy, the same is true with your gutter system. Regularly checking and cleaning it can prevent future costly repairs. It’s amazing what can accumulate in gutters. Algae, mold, dirt, leaves, grass, pine needles, pine cones, acorns, branches, fruit, nuts, bird nests, bird droppings, dead birds, dead creatures, insects, worms, cans, bottles, baseballs, tennis balls, toys, paper, balloons, rope, wire, nails, screws, pieces of roof and other roofing materials are some of the things found in gutters. Things can accumulate quickly and without your knowledge of it, thus regular gutter maintenance cannot be over stressed.
So how often should gutters be cleaned? Well as often as they need it. That will mainly depend on the type and amount of foliage that are overhanging the roof. Some gutters require up to 4 times a year, others only once a year or every few years. The rule of thumb is once a year in late fall or early winter preferably before a big storm.
Cleaning gutters is not an easy job nor is it a safe one. According to the World Health Organization, each year there are more than 164,000 emergency room-treated injuries and around 300 deaths in the U.S. that are caused by falls from ladders. When you add falls from rooftops, the statistics become even higher. This is a dangerous job and should only be performed by adequately trained professionals who are licensed and insured.
Many are choosing to save time, energy and money by installing leaf guards. Leaf guards prevent all types of foliage and other objects from entering the gutter system. Call us for an estimate on installing leaf guards to your existing gutters.