Many homeowners in Trabuco Canyon, particularly in the wet season, wrestle with gutter overflow. One might think that this is just minor problem but this is over the long run cause of some damage to your home. Ranging from repairs on the foundation to replacement of the roof, the effects of untended gutters are far wide and unwanted.
This blog will highlight how to manage gutter overflow including the root causes of the issue itself.
Why do Gutters Overflow
The gutters overflow when excessive rainwater fills the gutter piping and the downpipes resulting to the leakage of water to slide of the gutters rather than directing the water away from the building. This could be due to the following factors:
- Debris Buildup: Often the gutters become saturated with leaves, twigs, dirts and other junk that inhibits the movement of water.
- Blockages in the Downspouts: When water is held in downspouts due to a blockage, It cannot be directed away from the rooms so it pours down from out the gutters.
- Gutters Installed Too Small for Existing Roof: Smaller size gutters than necessary for your roof are often grossly inadequate to handle heavy rains.
- Gutter Installation Problems: A common problem in gutter installation is improper angle or insufficient fasteners. As a result, water will not run accordingly.
All of these problems lead to the same situation, which is the gutter getting filled to its maximum capacity, which is unattended, can result to great consequences in your house.
Gutter Overflow Dangers
Even though an overflowing gutter is not apprehended as needing immediate attention, the things that are associated with it are much serious:
Damage to the Foundation or Walls: An overall water that is directed and recessed from the roof or ceiling at its edges through the gutter, drains fluid away from the house’s foundation. Over time this leads to foundation cracks which are later very expensive to repairs.
Leaks: Leaking gutters cause water to run over the shingles edges and into the underlying parts of the building. This also leads to wood rotting of things like roofs and facsia boards.
Flooding: In homes that have basements, water spills over and pours into the basement where there is flooding turning the basement into a mold corner.
Eroded Landscapes: When the water that pours from the gutter is not properly dealt with, it creates havoc to your landscape drainage in a way that plants and soils hard muscular structures are lost.
In case you do something about the gutter overflow prevention , you will be safe from such conditions and hence costly repairs that take care of problematic areas.
How to Prevent Gutter Overflow
When it comes to one’s dwelling, treating gutter overflow should never be overlooked. Such measure’s include:
- Regular Gutter Cleaning: The most effective way to prevent gutter overflow is through regular cleaning. Removal of leaves, dirt and other debris means there will be a smooth flow of water on the gutters. It is advised to have the gutters clean at least two times annually: at the onset of fall and in the spring.
- Install Gutter Guards: This allow water to flows, but blocks debris from entering your gutters which consequently helps to prevent the need for a gutter cleaning too often and prevent gutter blockage and overflowing.
- Check Downspouts: Downspouts should also be routinely checked and cleared to ensure they are slowing well with no blockages and that they are directing water away from the house. A hose can also be used to check if water is flowing in the downspouts as it should.
- Ensure Proper Gutter Installation: Gutter should neither be too small nor too big for your house and they should also be installed without a negative angle so as to dire the water towards the down pipes. Carrying out improper installation will result in puddles of water being formed causing gutter overflowing.
When to Call the Professionals
When you see that the gutter overflow is constant or when cleaning the gutters does not seem to resolve the issue, you need to call professionals. A qualified exterior cleaning service can look at your gutters, determine if there have been any problems with the installation or upkeep of the structure, and physical clean it so that it works.
Safeguard Your Home from Gutter Spillover
Inadequate management of gutter overflow conditions can result to huge cost repairs replacing the ire of the less important dam structurally repairs. Dusting the gutter and checking for blockage, and perhaps the most important of all, making sure that the gutter is correctly installed will all contribute to preventing any water damage to the house and maintaining the roof, foundation, or even the landscaping.
As for the residents of Trabuco Canyon, Americano Services performs high-quality cleaning of the house exterior with gutter maintenance. Call us now to get your gutters professionally cleansed, and there will be no gutter overflow problems in your house. You will be able to keep the house in safe and good shape throughout the year with help of this service.
