The fact that clogged gutters cause water damage inside the house may not be immediately obvious but it s true.
Clogged gutters water in house.
A rain gutter drain pipe is usually installed to carry water away from your house.
If you haven t cleaned your gutters yet do this first finishing with unclogging the downspout.
Eventually water will start to seep into your home causing further damage to the interior.
When gutters clog and fill with water the boards start to deteriorate and rot.
Gutter hangers and spikes often slip free from the fascia landing in the gutter.
Climb a sturdy ladder with the end of a garden hose in one hand.
An underground drain pipe can become clogged in a variety of ways including leaf buildup or damage to the pipe itself.
Clogged gutters cause water to spill out and wash away your plants.
Where s the gutter clogged.
Clean them at least once a year and twice a year if you have a lot of trees nearby.
Photo courtesy of angie s list member jeanine l.
When you reach the top opening of the downspout ask a helper down below to turn on the water.
Since curb appeal is a huge determining factor in your property value this goes much deeper than simple matters of appearance.
An inch of rainfall on a typical 1 000 square foot roof sends over 600 gallons of water into the gutters and downspouts.
Without the gutter or with a defective or clogged gutter the water would simply fall right next to the house and form a pool near the foundation.
If you see standing water or mildew near the foundation it can indicate that the gutters are clogged or there could be a defect in the gutter system.
Pools of water and mold.
Left untended gutters and downspouts get so clogged with debris that they re rendered useless.
If a home has wood siding clogged gutters can also cause water to overflow out of the gutter system and down the sides of the home.
This is the most common problem of all.
Clogged gutters can cause water to flow down the sides of the home and pool around its foundation.
Often this item is bent or out of place.
Clogged gutters allow water to sit stagnant against your home leading to roof rot which makes the material weak over time.
If water flows out of the bottom carrying leaf debris with it your job is complete.
You may also notice puddles in your lawn and will need to re plant grass that is too damaged to continuously grow.
Your gutters move a lot of water.
Many of these pipes are placed underground to avoid the eyesore of pipes laying on the ground next to your house.
The fascia boards that hold the gutter system are often made of wood.
Replace or touch up the paint on the damaged section of the gutter.
Look for clogs and remove debris to get the water flowing.
The downspout cage a wire strainer designed to trap debris while allowing water to flow through is located where the downspout intersects the gutter.
Cleaning out your gutters is more than just a tedious chore it is necessary in order to avoid costly damage to your home.