If you missed cleaning your gutters in the spring, there’s no time like the present, as summer weather and thunderstorms with heavy gusts of wind could be around the corner here in Southeast PA. You want to make sure your gutters are in good repair so that they can keep your house dry inside when it’s wet outside. 

Parts of a gutter

Your gutters are made of many individual parts that all need to be in good condition in order for your gutters to function properly. The long sections along your roof line are simply called sections, which are often joined together to extend the entire length of the roof. Some gutters are fitted with gutter guards of some sort to deflect debris. The end cap closes the section at the end so that water stops flowing along the section and is directed down the downspout.

Downspouts often have elbows, which direct the downspout toward the side of your house. Without the elbows, your downspout would probably hang a foot or more away from the side of your home, making it very susceptible to damage from wind or debris. It is more secure against your house. The spout and sections are all secured to the house with various types of hangers and straps.

The downspout should lead down to a splash block or a pipe that directs water at least six feet away from your house in order to avoid moisture collecting along the foundation. 

What can go wrong

With so many different parts, there are a lot of ways things can go wrong. First, while gutters look horizontal to the naked eye, they should have a slight slope in order to direct water towards the downspout. Too little slope and the water sits and creates an environment for mold and mosquitoes and increases the risk of rusting out the gutters. Too much slope and the water rushes too fast into the downspout. The pressure of rapidly moving water can cause sections and hangers to come loose. 

If your gutters aren’t fitted with a gutter guard, debris easily fills them, especially if there are trees near your home. This debris can also create a moist environment for mold and rust, and it can run down into your downspouts and create clogs, especially in the elbows or at the base of the downspout, which can cause water to accumulate around your foundation, potentially causing serious damage. 

Backflow is another problem. If gutters are not properly slanted away from the side of the house or are not positioned the proper distance from your house, water can flow from the edge of the roof underneath the roofing material or down the side of your house. This can cause serious water damage inside your home. 

Finally, just the general passage of time can cause the parts of the gutter to come apart, hangers to loosen, and metal to rust. If you have gutter guards, they could be dislodged by strong winds or heavy debris and no longer function as intended. 

Cleaning your gutters

As gutter experts, we are well aware of the dangers associated with cleaning gutters along a roof that is more than one story high. If you have a rancher or low gutters, you as the homeowner may be able to clean the gutters without a ladder. But we do strongly recommend you call an expert to handle higher gutters because tragedy does sometimes strike when a homeowner is trying to clean gutters without the proper equipment or training. 

If you have a hose with an extension, you can try to flush debris out of your gutters while you remain safely on the ground. If any elbows or downspouts within reach seem to have gotten dislodged, you can reconnect them and add caulk to any small leaks. If you see any loose nails from gutter hangers, tap them back into the wall or trim carefully to tighten your gutters’ position against your house. But as previously mentioned, unless you’re an expert, you won’t be able to tell whether your gutters are positioned properly to direct water away from your home and down the spout correctly.  

If you notice any other issues with your gutters or you suspect leakage into your home, please contact an experienced contractor to help you. Avoid choosing someone randomly or someone who comes to your door soliciting. 

At M&K Renovations, we have years of experience and many testimonials from happy customers to assure you that we will always do what’s best for you as a homeowner. Call us at (610) 353-2895 from anywhere in the Philadelphia, PA area to see how we can help you.