Those aluminum gutters on your house aren't just a trim piece on your home. They actually serve a purpose. They guide rainwater away from your home and yard and help prevent flooding or water damage from occurring at your home. If you don't have gutters or they are in poor shape, it can end up causing you a lot of problems. Read on for reasons why gutters are important and tips to keep them in good shape.
Guide Rainwater Away
The rain falling onto your home needs to go somewhere. If the gutters can't catch the rain, it's going to cause the rainwater to just pour all around your home. This rainwater can get too close to your foundation and cause flooding in your basement, crawl space, or even the main floor of your home. This is especially true if your yard isn't graded properly. Rainwater may sit too close to your home and will eventually soak into the ground — which can still end up in your home. Be sure you have gutters on your home and that they are in good working order. There shouldn't be any leaks in the gutters at all, and they should flow properly.
Prevent Damage To Your Roof/Home
If your gutters are clogged or are not attached to your home properly, rainwater can build up and begin to soak into the roof or the walls of your home. If this happens, you could end up with a lot more damage. The built-up water sits in the gutters and then rolls over with nowhere else to go. This excessive water will rot through your roof, get into the soffit/fascia, and eventually enter your walls. If not caught fast enough, you may end up with mold and mildew. This will not only be costly, but it can also be a health hazard for anyone in your home with existing breathing problems.
Maintenance Tips For Your Gutters
If you have gutters on your home, be sure to inspect the gutters each season and look for any sagging areas. Also, look for areas where the gutters are pulled away from your home. Use a level to be sure the gutters are aligned.
Clean your gutters and remove clogs to be sure you don't have issues with damming. Clean out your gutters in the spring and in the fall, and don't forget about the downspouts.
If you have damaged gutters, replace them with brand-new ones. Repair them if you can, but if they are in poor shape, it's best to replace them altogether. Call a professional gutter installation company for help with this task to ensure it is done properly.
One day when we were all sitting in our living room, I thought I felt a drop of water fall onto my arm. At first, I figured it was my imagination, but when the second one fell, I knew we had an issue. Although it wasn't raining that day, it had rained the day before, so I started looking for the source of the problem. After looking in my attic, I could tell what the problem was, and I knew I had to fix it. I started looking for ways to stop the water immediately, but it just wasn't working for me. Fortunately, roofers came out, fixed the problem, and showed me what I needed to do to clean up the mess. Read more on this blog.