Does Your Home Need New Gutters?
The gutter system on many homes goes unnoticed, unmaintained, and ignored all too often. Gutter systems are installed on homes to manage water run-off. Without the gutter system, the rain would wash right off the roof, run down the side of your home and settle on the ground directly surrounding your foundation – in other words – the gutter system is an important element of protecting the home from water damage. Here, you'll find a few tips to help you keep your gutters in good working order and tips to determine when you need to call for gutter system repair or replacement.
How do they look?
Sometimes, gutter systems are in such disrepair that you can tell from the ground that they've been neglected for years and will need to be replaced. Other times, the damage may not be as easily visible from the ground below.
Take a look at your gutter system from the ground – do you see any areas where the gutters are flexing out of shape? Are there any areas where plants have begun to grow? Do you see any rust or gaps along the seams?
When it's raining, take an umbrella and go out to see how the water is flowing through the system. If the system is working properly, the water will not overflow, will not drip and will only flow down through the gutter to the downspout and away from the house. If you notice water leaking from any area of the gutter, take note and call for repairs soon.
Do you have unexplainable interior water damage?
If you've noticed that there is water damage occurring in a certain area of the house, but have yet to find the cause for the water leak, the culprit could be the gutter system failure. When the gutter overflows, the water runs down the side of the house, where it seeps into any cracks or untreated materials and begins causing damage. Note the area of damage, go outside and check the gutter in that direct area – do you see anything that could cause the gutters to leak? If not, there may be a small enough leak in a seam to allow drips of water to slowly leak into the home – call for repairs or inspection.
The best way to know if your gutter system is in good working order is to contact a gutter system service, like Clinton Seamless Guttering. They will take the time to inspect your gutters and make any recommendations for replacement or repairs.
