7 Common Gutter Problems Homeowners Should Be Aware Of

Gutter problems are often overlooked by homeowners when they shouldn’t be, as the gutter system is the silent protector of our house.

The gutter system makes sure our drainage is working fine while also ensuring the wellness of our home’s foundation. If properly installed and looked after, it can help us in many ways. However, if overlooked, the problems can lead to something horrifying.

Our gutters divert water away from the house, making sure the water doesn’t pool down and weaken the foundation of our house. That’s why proper gutter maintenance is necessary. But are you wondering- “what can go wrong?” Well, a lot of things!

Join us as we locate some of the common gutter problems that homeowners face and what can be done to avoid them.

7 Common Gutter Problems

Some of the common gutter problems which are often overlooked are mentioned below.

1. Clogged Up Gutters

Clogging up of gutters is very common, especially during fall when leaves and twigs block the flow of water. The accumulated debris makes it impossible for water to drain, and it becomes quite a hassle if there’s a rainstorm.

The clogged up gutter leads water to seep through the walls, thus damaging the house’s foundation and destroying the whole purpose of having gutters in the first place. Hence, to ensure your gutters don’t clog up, remember to clean them diligently at least twice a year.

2. Leaking Gutters

Gutter leaks can go unnoticed most of the time, and this happens in case of minor cracks or holes. A minor crack can transform into a bigger one if it stays untreated.

Thus, you should properly caulk all the holes that you found in the gutter system to avoid any major problems. However, if there’s a major leak, then it’s better to get it treated professionally.

3. Incorrectly Positioned Downspouts

Downspouts lead water away from the house to ensure it doesn’t seep into the foundation of the house and weaken it. However, if the downspouts are incorrectly placed, then the water will be discharged near your house, which isn’t good.

Thus, to ensure this problem doesn’t persist, you can change the position of your downspout so that water doesn’t pool near the foundation. If that isn’t possible, then you can install a gutter extension.

4. Damaged Gutters

Your gutters can get damaged due to a number of reasons, but the most common one is the weather! Heavy rain or wind can damage your gutter, and the best you can do is to check them regularly and make sure they’re hanging nice and fine.

Normal bents can be easily adjusted. However, if the damage is big, you will need to get them repaired.

5. Improper Gutter Pitching and Sloping

If your gutter is leaking without any crack or debris, this is a sign of improper gutter pitching and sloping. Bents and cracks can be cured, but if the whole structure of your gutter is improper and isn’t aligned correctly, then there’s nothing you can do other than calling for maintenance and reinstalling them.

The water won’t flow out of your gutters if they aren’t adequately pitched. Thus, always make sure they’re pitched correctly. The correct pitching is a quarter-inch pitch for every 10 ft gutter.

6. Sagging Gutters

Sagging gutters is another common problem that homeowners should be aware of. If you aren’t in the habit of cleaning your gutters, then over time, the weight of the debris will make them sag.

As gutters are attached to the house with hangers, excess weight makes them loose. But don’t worry! Loose hangers can be easily fixed. All you need to do is tighten up some screws. However, if the hangers become too far apart, then you need to reinstall them, as tightening the screws won’t do the job.

7.Poor Gutter System

While some people forget about gutter maintenance, some of them forget to install them altogether. There are houses with no gutter system at all, which is obviously not ideal. Gutters need to be installed not only to protect your roof tiles but also to protect the foundation of your house.

Thus, to make sure the water doesn’t pool and cause any structural damage, install an adequate guttering system. Installing an aluminium guttering system is recommended as it’s durable and easy to maintain.

How To Avoid Gutter Problems?

To make sure you don’t face these common gutter problems that mostly everyone suffers from, here’s what you need to do.

1. Clean Your Gutters

Cleaning gutters is an essential part of gutter maintenance. If you don’t clean them regularly, the debris will clog and sag your gutters.

2. Check Your Gutters Regularly

You should always check your gutters to ensure there’s no problem. It’s a preventive measure that involves checking for leakages or joints to make sure they’re fine.

3. Install Gutters Correctly

Structural problems in your gutters, like incorrect pitching, can destroy the whole purpose of having gutters in the first place. Thus, you should ensure that your gutters are correctly installed with the right pitching.

4. Choose The Right Material

Frequent repair work can be a hassle. Thus, choosing a suitable gutter material is important to ensure gutters are working fine and don’t damage easily. Aluminium, fibreglass, copper, and steel are some of the popular materials for gutters.

Conclusion

Gutters ensure that our drainage system is working optimally while protecting the foundation of our house. It leads the water away from the foundation and doesn’t let it pool up. However, many things can go wrong with our gutter system if we don’t pay close attention to it. A blocked gutter can eventually cause a pipe to burst requiring a burst pipe plumber.

There are many common gutter problems that homeowners face, and we have tried to highlight them all in this article. The most common one among them is the problem of clogged and sagged gutters.

Thus, to make sure you don’t face the same problem, you should religiously clean your gutters. Luckily, our plumbers are experts in working on blocked drains Ipswich wide.