Do you know if your home needs gutter repair? Do you know how important your home’s rain gutters are? They are one type of fixture that every home benefits from, yet not many homeowners give much thought too until there is an issue.
In this post, we’ll explore your home'’s rain gutters, what they do, and what you can expect when it comes to repair. So keep reading to learn more about home periodical repair and why it matters. You’ll see just how important a role these fixtures play in making sure you stay safe.
What They Do
When it comes to keeping the home safe from water damage, there are few better ways to do it than with rain gutters. With rain gutters installed along the home’s roof, the rain collects and travels through the downspout where it is then carried away from the foundation.
Without gutters, in areas where rain is excessive, the water will collect and may erode away at the soil at the foundation. This can encourage mold growth in some conditions.
Each of those are problems that can only get worse over time and can cost you a good amount of money to correct. With that in mind, doesn’t it seem like a good idea to keep an eye out for the things that could signal a need for gutter repair so that that these issues don’t pose a problem?
Keep in mind that in some areas of the country, it’s important not to have the gutters go around the entire perimeter of the fascia board, just in functional areas like the walkway to the front door.
Why? Because in areas that experience drought and have concrete slab foundations, the water is needed close up to keep the foundation from cracking.
Rainwater Harvesting
With more public focus on the importance of not wasting drinking water, more homeowners are capturing rainwater to use for landscape or garden watering.
There are a couple of ways to go about this. One is to simply use tubing to direct the water directly to the area you want to water. While this works and is easy to implement, it is not the most useful method.
A better method is to collect the water from the downspout in a storage container or cistern to be used in dry times, when it is really needed. One major benefit is that garden plants thrive on rainwater rather than tap water because the pH is better suited to their welfare.
What You Need to Look For During Periodic Inspections
If you want to prevent damage and make sure your gutters function as they should, then you should start by looking for clogging, because that is the most common problem. This should be obvious when you spot the area where the water runs over the side.
When a gutter is clogged, that keeps water from passing through. This leads to problems like added weight and standing water in which mosquitoes can breed.
If the gutters gain too much weight and tear free of the roof, then you could find yourself dealing with damage to other parts of the home as well. While that is the main issue, it also helps to be aware of problems like:
Cracking.
Cracks in your gutters are a sure sign that you will need to repair or replace them soon, because they will eventually start leaking. Since cracks will only grow, it pays to take care of them as soon as possible.
Rust Formation.
Like with anything else, rust on your gutters is a sign that they are getting old. When that's the case, then a full replacement might be your best option.
Damaged Paint
You might find it on the actual gutters or you might find it on the home's siding. Either way, it's a sign that there might be a leak somewhere. Finding the leak and replacing damaged sections of gutter is what you want to do when faced with this situation.
By looking for issues like these, you can be sure to protect your home and make sure it stands strong. Like any other kind of home improvement work, fixing gutters needs to be as thorough as possible, so it might help to turn to gutter replacement and repair done by professionals in order for you to get exactly what you need.
