Gutters are barely noticeable. They're a system that protects your home by removing moisture and rainwater from your roof. Without gutters, water would travel straight to your yard and dislodge soil, soak your garden, stain your siding, and even cause damage to your basement.
If kept unchecked over time, gutters lose their integrity. They could rust due to the presence of moisture and bacteria. Dust and leaves may encourage small animals to nest in them. Lastly, gutters can accumulate large amounts of snow and start sagging.
Before winter arrives, have a roofer check the state of your gutters to maintain its performance. They can fill in holes, reinforce the gutter's structure, and leave you with enough time to replace the system if necessary.
It's challenging to know if your gutters are still in good shape. You'll need to climb the roof and observe the system. A roofer can do much better in cleaning them. They can observe the gutter and peer inside its downspouts. Then, they can clean them efficiently and ensure rainwater will flow into it without causing backflow that enters your attic.
When a rainstorm comes out of nowhere, the last thing you want to be worried about is whether your gutters can redirect all the water properly. Proper drainage will be essential to reducing your home’s risk of flooding as well as cutting the amount of damage your property sustains during this period. In fact, the better your gutter system functions, the less cleanup you’ll have to do after the fact. Here is how to improve the drainage of your home gutters and the factors that can affect their performance.
KEEP YOUR SYSTEM CLEAN
To maintain a steady water flow through all your gutter’s components, you first need to make sure that the piping is clean. As you’re probably well aware, gutters tend to collect an assortment of debris throughout the seasons. These items obstruct the channels where the water flows and stop them from draining as efficiently as they should, so regularly clearing this gunk out will be vital moving forward.
INSTALL GUTTER GUARD ACCESSORIES
You can also improve the drainage of your home gutters by installing an accessory to keep potential blockages out. A gutter guard is a screened device that attaches to the top of your gutter channels and prevents large debris from collecting in them. The screen portion still lets water in—allowing your system to do what it does best unhindered. Professionals can even hook up these products for you and save you the extra work.
USE DOWNSPOUT EXTENDERS
Another step you can take is to equip your downspouts with several extenders. On a basic gutter system, the downspout doesn’t deposit water very far away from your home. Though this is still helpful in preventing floods, you can further increase your odds by making this section of pipe longer. In doing so, the water runs further out into your yard, draining it in a much more effective way. (Continue reading here to learn more)
Need top-notch roofers to improve your roof and gutter's condition before winter arrives? Turn to the best in your local area. Slavin Home Improvement is a trusted roofing company in your local area with decades of experience helping neighborhoods. Call us today to get a free quote.
