Maintaining Gutters to Protect Your Home's Exterior From Water Damage

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Protecting your home's exterior from water exposure is vitally important, as even a small amount of rainwater running down exterior walls or pooling around a house foundation can lead to cracks and leaks in brick and concrete. This type of exterior damage is expensive to repair and often leads to an increased risk of mould developing in the home.

Maintaining your home's gutters are part of protecting your home's exterior from water damage. Note a few tips on how to keep those gutters in good repair and functioning as they should, so you avoid unnecessary exterior and interior water damage to your home.

Clean downspouts

Your home's gutters are connected to downspouts that direct water away from the home. If the downspouts are clogged, the gutters will back up and hold standing water. The weight of that water can pull the gutters away from the roof and cause leaks.

Cleaning downspouts is then as important as keeping gutters clean, so be sure you give those downspouts a good rinse with a power washer as needed. Note if the opening of the downspouts is clogged or if water runs freely from their ends. Use a weed trimmer to remove grass and other growth around the downspout openings if needed.

Check the water flow of gutters

Gutters are actually installed at a slight angle so that water flows to the connected downspouts. If your home's gutters get weighed down or otherwise damaged, this angle might be affected, so that water doesn't flow to the downspouts. Use a hose and slowly fill a gutter with water and note if the water moves to a downspout. If the water just sits in the gutter, you need to call a repair person to correct that angle and ensure rainwater flows out of the gutters as it should.

Leaf guards

Cleaning out gutters is probably no one's idea of a fun Saturday afternoon, but clogged gutters can lead to rainwater spilling over their sides and pooling around a house's foundation. Getting a leaf guard for your home's gutters will keep them clean and free of leaves, twigs, seeds, acorns, bird droppings, and other debris.

Mesh leaf guards can also reduce the amount of dirt, grime, silt, and other fine debris that might build up in the gutters. These guards are very affordable and easy for any homeowner to install on their own, and they are very effective at protecting your home's exterior from potential water damage. 


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