Do you hear the waterfalls pouring out of your gutter during every rain storm? Overflowing gutters are not only annoying but they also endanger your home. The water pools around your foundation and could leak into your basement or home. The excess water can damage siding, cause window frames to rot, and other serious problems. If your gutters overflow regularly, you need to resolve the problem now.
Here are the most common causes of overflowing gutters, and the solutions:
#1 – Dirty Gutters – Leaf, dirt, and shingle granules can clog your gutters fast. Gutters filled with debris will not drain properly and overflow onto your home.
Luckily, the solution is simple. You just need to get a tall ladder, and clean your gutters. Make sure you select a sturdy ladder. An extension ladder leaning against your home is more secure than a folding ladder. Wear gloves while cleaning your gutters avoid cuts and scrapes from the debris and edges of your gutters. Many gutters have sharp edges. You can use garden hose to wash away dirt from the gutters once you remove larger debris.
#2 – Plugged Downspouts – Make sure your downspouts are not packed with leaves and sticks. A single stick can catch leaves and quickly cause your entire gutter system to back up. Try cleaning the top of the downspout first. Remove any sticks and leaves, and use garden hose to see if it drains properly. If not, you can try to power wash out debris. If this fails, you may need to use a push rod or wire to unblock the downspout.
#3 – Improper Slope – Your gutters need to have a slight tilt towards the downspout. If your gutters are too level, sag in the middle, or tip away from the downspout, they can pool water and then overflow. This fix takes a little more work and may require the assistance of a professional. Your gutters may need to be unfastened from your home, raised slightly and reattached.
#4 – Wrong Size – If your gutters are clean, properly aligned, and still overflow on most rains, then there is a good chance they are not large enough for your home. Your gutters need to be able to handle the volume of water your roof dumps into them. You may need to have your gutters replaced to handle the volume. Have a gutter professional evaluate your roof and check if you would need any roof-repair.
Avoiding Dirty Gutters – If you have a large home or multi-story home, cleaning the gutters and downspouts are not an easy task. It is much easier to keep them clean and avoid cleaning them once or twice a year. You can have gutter screens added over the gutters which allow the water to go into the gutters, but keeps out sticks, leaves, and other dirts. This reduces how frequently you need to clean your gutters.
While installers of gutter covers may promise you will never need to clean your gutters again, don’t take that as a guarantee. Your gutters will still accumulate dirt and may need occasional cleaning.
You can keep your gutters running smoothly by cleaning them frequently. Make sure to clean them every autumn after leaves fall from the trees.
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