Declutter Your Gutter, Save Your House
It's easy to forget about your gutters, but keeping that water flowing is essential to avoid damage to your home's foundations
The most important thing you need to do to help your gutter protect your house from water invasion is to keep it clean and clear. This guide will help you make sure there’s a clear passage for the water to flow from your roof to the drainpipe, unimpeded by leaves, other litter and the odd tennis ball. While this may not be a project you want to do every weekend and you may not think it’s a fun family activity, it’s a critical part of ensuring your house and its foundations remain dry and intact.
While checking roof gutters isn’t always a job one would leap at immediately, it’s a critical part of the autumn/winter landscape. It should be scheduled in as frequently as dental appointments because, let’s face it, both experiences can be a little painful but are equally necessary. Thankfully, maintaining the health and flow of gutters is not as expensive as dental work, and not quite as agonising. So make sure you get up on that ladder this season – or hire someone else to – and survey the situation.
Why do I need to clean my gutters?
When working properly, roof gutters direct water off your roof and into the downpipe, which flows into the stormwater drain. If the gutters aren’t clear, they can overflow and let water into your roof, resulting in soggy ceilings and mould. While some of you may be keen on a free indoor water feature, this is not the best way to attain one.
When working properly, roof gutters direct water off your roof and into the downpipe, which flows into the stormwater drain. If the gutters aren’t clear, they can overflow and let water into your roof, resulting in soggy ceilings and mould. While some of you may be keen on a free indoor water feature, this is not the best way to attain one.
And while this may not come to mind when you think about your gutters, they actually ensure your home sits on strong foundations, by directing water elsewhere.
How does your house meet the ground?
How does your house meet the ground?
If you can climb a ladder safely, pick up a leaf from a gutter and put it somewhere else, then you should be able to check your roof gutters at least twice a year.
What’s the first step?
You’re on the ground for this one, but it’ll give you clues once you get to the upper levels. Check for any water stains or water damage in and around your deck and/or balcony. Symptoms like wood decay or persistent mould – both dangerous to your health and safety – could indicate water leakage.
TO CHECK:
You’re on the ground for this one, but it’ll give you clues once you get to the upper levels. Check for any water stains or water damage in and around your deck and/or balcony. Symptoms like wood decay or persistent mould – both dangerous to your health and safety – could indicate water leakage.
TO CHECK:
- Grab a hose and direct a fast-running stream of water onto your roof for a few minutes.
- Watch where the water goes and how it flows.
- You should be able to see leaks dripping from the gutters, and if the water moves unnaturally slowly from the roof to the downpipe it indicates blockages.
All right, now pull up a ladder and take note of the base of the down pipe right up to your gutters, as well as your nearest overhanging trees or branches that could drop leaves where leaves are not welcome.
- Check for holes in the gutter and if you find any, take note as you will be able to fix them temporarily with caulk as you consider replacing that part of the gutter. In the same way, check for rust. Rusted gutters will only get worse, so they will need to be replaced as soon as possible.
- While in observation mode, and as you’re climbing the ladder closer to your gutters, check the rivets that line the side of the downpipes. If some are loose or have fallen out, you can fix and replace these quite easily.
- Check to see if you will need to remove any tree branches that may be too close to the gutters, or which are growing into or out of them. If the job is too complex and you aren’t confident with a saw perched on a ladder, you may need to call in a professional tree surgeon.
Get your guards sorted
Your gutter guards are the sentinels, they keep litter from entering the gutter. If you don’t have gutter guards, it’s a good idea to get them, otherwise removing muck from the gutters will need to happen more frequently. If you do have gutter guards, a simple check will ensure they are doing their job:
Your gutter guards are the sentinels, they keep litter from entering the gutter. If you don’t have gutter guards, it’s a good idea to get them, otherwise removing muck from the gutters will need to happen more frequently. If you do have gutter guards, a simple check will ensure they are doing their job:
- Check to see if the guards are in place and still intact. Double-check fastenings and ensure there are no wobbly gutter troughs.
- Keep tree branches trimmed and well away from the gutter guards.
- Remove guards every couple of years and clean out built-up silt to prevent corrosion.
Take a creative shortcut
If you have a leaf blower, you can use some PVC pipe attached to 90-degree bends to make an extension, and use this to blow out the dry leaves when the gutters are dry. Then, once the leaves are out you can use a hose to flush out the rest of the dirt that may be in there.
Make sure you wear protective eyewear, a mask and/or headwear to protect yourself from whatever debris may be in the gutters. It really is that easy.
YOUR SAY
Have you ever suffered the consequences of not cleaning your gutters? Share your tale of woe in the Comments.
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Find more roof and gutter experts in your area
If you have a leaf blower, you can use some PVC pipe attached to 90-degree bends to make an extension, and use this to blow out the dry leaves when the gutters are dry. Then, once the leaves are out you can use a hose to flush out the rest of the dirt that may be in there.
Make sure you wear protective eyewear, a mask and/or headwear to protect yourself from whatever debris may be in the gutters. It really is that easy.
YOUR SAY
Have you ever suffered the consequences of not cleaning your gutters? Share your tale of woe in the Comments.
MORE
Find more roof and gutter experts in your area