5 Common Gutter PRoblems & Solutions
When was the last time you checked your gutters?
The answer to that is… probably a while.
Most people tend to forget that their gutters are there. Unfortunately, we all forget until something goes wrong. Storms, wind, rain, and leaves are not friends of any gutter – which can mean more repairs and costly replacements, hence sometimes checking on them can save you in the long run.
But what can you do to prevent issues with your gutters? Find some solutions below to prepare yourself for before and after winter!
1. Blocked Gutters & Downpipes
South Australia is known for its gum trees, but they’re also a home’s worst nightmare. Gutters can become clogged when debris, such as leaves, twigs, and dirt, are left to build up and accumulate.
If you’ve noticed during winter or when it’s been heavily raining that there’s a lot of overflow from your gutters, it might be time to get them checked out! Water overflow can cause damage to the internal and external walls of the home. Water can also accumulate around the blockage, encouraging debris, moss, lichen, and algae to build up – which will cause erosion (and more long-term issues!)
Additional debris blocking the gutters can add extra pressure, causing the gutters to sag and droop.
Solution?
It’s important to clean and maintain your gutters at least once a year. However, if you have several trees overhanging your home, it may be better to do this twice a year to prevent excess blockages.
2. Sagging or Loose Gutters
Gutters can sag or become loose for a variety of reasons. One of the main causes of sagging gutters is due to being clogged for a long time, or extreme weather and storms which can deteriorate the hardware and materials. Loose gutters can separate from the house and can be extremely dangerous.
Solution?
Depending on how significant the damage is, it may mean either cleaning out and securing back to your structure, or replacing the segment of gutter.
3. Leaking Gutters
Have you noticed more watermarks on your external walls? Your gutters may be the cause of this. Gutter leaks can be caused by holes, cracks, rust, and gutter joints splitting and separating.
After 10+ years this is not an uncommon occurrence, as gutters are exposed to elements 24/7.
Solution?
You need expert assistance to identify the cause of the leak and assess the extent of the issue. It may be a simple fix, or potentially more crucial where it’s impacted the gutters for long-term damage. In the situation that your gutters require replacing, Just Quality offers full gutter replacements for residential homes.
4. Incorrectly Installed Downpipes
During periods of rainfall, downpipes play a vital role in ensuring the proper drainage of water. Improper installation or an insufficient amount of downpipes can result in significant problems for both your home and gutter system.
Downpipes are crucial for drainage! If your downpipes are not connected properly, they won’t disperse the water far enough away from the home’s foundation. Over time, this water can create a pool around the foundation, ultimately causing damage to this part of your home.
Solution?
The solution may involve installing more downpipes to take the pressure off the existing downpipe, ensuring that all downpipes are connected properly and draining water in the correct locations.
4. Missing Gutters
If you’ve just bought an older home and notice sections of the gutters are missing – it’s best to get onto this sooner rather than later! Some guttering systems might not have the right parts or pieces, or they have fallen off over time. Whatever the reason, this is something that needs to be fixed!
Water that would normally be carried around could fall down onto people at your home, pool around the foundation, and have a lot of issues with drainage.
Solution?
If your guttering system is not adequate, then new segments may need to be installed. If your gutters are missing segments from damage or deterioration, it may be best to have your entire guttering system replaced.
Are your Gutters up to Standard?
A working gutter system is crucial for a healthy home. Ensure your gutters are checked at least once a year to prevent blockages and damage!
Explore our Full Gutter Replacements and consider professional installation to ensure your gutters are up to standard.
