Finding Damage in Metal Rain Gutters
Rain gutters are an extremely important part of your home. Especially in areas of heavy rainfall, sound rain gutters can prevent all kinds of moisture damage to your home. Specifically, properly-placed gutters can prevent rot or mildew on the siding, flooding in the basement, and water-related damage to the foundation. Because of its many important functions, it is imperative to keep the gutters in proper working order and fix any issues as quickly as possible. Unfortunately, this essential feature is easily overlooked and neglected.
In order to locate any damage to your metal gutters, first do a visual inspection. Walk around the periphery of the house, closely examining the underside and side of the gutter that you can see. Look for any spots that are rusted and any holes in the metal. If the gutters haven’t been kept clean, punctures may be visible by dirty areas or gunk on the underside of the metal.
Next, step back so that you can see how the gutters sit against the house. Are there any areas that seem loose? Do you see any places where the gutter bows or bulges, possibly from the weight of buildup? These are potential issues as they can eventually cause the metal to bend and break.
Take a sturdy ladder and, with someone at the bottom to steady the ladder, climb up to check the interior of the gutter. If needed, thoroughly clean the gutter so that the entire interior surface may be visually inspected. Investigate any creases, spots, bends or other potential damage. Check the slant of the gutter by pouring water into the gutter and observing whether it flows directly to a spout. If it does not, the gutters will need to be adjusted to the appropriate slant. Allow plenty of water to flow through the entire gutter system while you watch closely for any leaks.
This kind of inspection can be done in about an hour, depending on how much cleaning must be done and how much gutter you have to check. Ideally, gutters should be inspected at least twice a year during routine cleanings. These are best done right after heavy leaf fall in the autumn, then again before heavy spring rains. Functioning gutters are necessary to safeguard your home’s siding and foundation from water damage. This is one part of home maintenance you can’t afford to neglect.