The Importance of Gutters and How To Keep Them Safe
Your home’s gutters are important; they keep rainwater moving along and dispersing at a safe distance from your home so your foundation, roof structure, and yard aren’t damaged. When you’re wondering how to prevent your house gutters from getting damaged, you’ll find that regular maintenance is key.
If your home doesn’t have newer seamless and rust-resistant gutters, you’ll want to take special care to watch out for rust and damage, especially along any seams. Rust spots and damage along seams are danger signs for the proper functioning of your gutters and downspouts, and if they aren’t working right, your roof, siding, and foundation could be at risk.
If water is spilling from your gutters during a rainstorm, they may be clogged or leaking. After a storm, it’s a good idea to check for spots that might have debris backed up, have leaves caught along seams or damaged areas, or simply have holes or cracks that water is escaping through. While you’re checking the condition of your gutters and downspouts, check the fastenings that secure them to your roof or siding, as well, to ensure that nothing’s missing or damaged and that your gutters or downspouts aren’t pulling away from the surfaces they are attached to.
Tending to these problems before they get too bad is one way to keep gutter damage at a minimum. But while you’re examining and replacing any damaged sections, don’t forget about your downspouts and splash blocks. Broken or missing downspouts or splash blocks can cause damage to your foundation or basement, to your home’s exterior, and to the landscaping of your yard.
As you can see, there’s more to proper gutter maintenance than just cleaning your gutters out once or twice a year. Short of a tree falling onto your roof or other sudden damage to your gutters, most damage is the result of a slow decline caused by factors that can take a while to build up. That’s why regular inspection and maintenance are the real key to your problems when you’re concerned about how to prevent your house gutters from getting damaged.