Why Is It Important To Clean Gutters And Downspouts?

Your gutters divert water accumulated from rainstorms and keep that water from your home’s foundation. When your gutters are clogged, that water has nowhere to go and starts soaking into your roof. Regularly cleaning and inspecting your gutters and downspouts can save you the inconvenience of having to repair, or even replace, your roof.

Over time, your gutters and downspouts will get clogged by leaves and tree branches, especially in the fall. We recommend inspecting your gutters and downspouts at least twice a year, preferably in the spring and fall when temperatures aren’t too hot or too cold. Inspecting your gutters means cleaning them, checking their slopes, and examining the drainage of the downspouts. All you need for the job are a pair of gloves, a ladder, a garden hose, and a little patience. 

You may encounter so much debris that a hose’s force won’t be enough to dislodge it, and you’ll have to pick it out with your hands. You’ll only be able to work within an arm’s reach, so you’ll frequently have to adjust the ladder’s placement carefully. To make the job go faster, you can use a long tool such as a trash picker to push debris into piles so you can collect them easier. After removing the debris from the gutters, you can clean out the downspouts by inserting the hose to wash out any debris.

The next thing you’ll want to do is check how the water drains. The water should travel immediately from the gutters and into the downspout. Using a small bucket of water, pour some water into the gutter and watch how it moves. Your gutters are correctly aligned if the water heads straight into the downspout. But if the water stops and collects into a pool, it’s probably a sign that something is wrong. Standing water in your gutters could become a breeding ground for mosquitoes. 

Finally, you’ll want to climb down the ladder, look at the downspouts, and see how they’re draining. Downspouts should drain water at least 5 feet away from the foundation of your home. If the water isn’t funneled away from the foundation, it can easily soak the soil and penetrate the interior of the building.

During your inspection, if you detect any damage to your gutter system, whether holes, leaks, or parts are misaligned, it’s best to let a professional repair it. As one of the top roofing companies in Fayetteville, GA, Chastain Roofing can help you save time and money by repairing or replacing your gutters. We also install gutter guards, which help prevent debris from ever getting in your gutters. For gutter installations in Fairburn, GA, give us a call today.