Winter is finally over and now it’s time to give your house a thorough Check Up!
As a Home Inspection Company, one of the biggest problems for homes we see is moisture penetration. Moisture, in the form of rain water, can penetrate the home from multiple locations such as the roof, the home’s siding and the foundation.
Today I will address the the role of gutters and downspouts and the importance of correctly maintaining them.
A few inches of rain falling on the roof of a house can produce several thousand gallons of water runoff. This runoff must be channeled away from the home’s foundation. Otherwise, the excess water can quickly saturate the soil surrounding the building and wick through the foundation to the interior. (See Figure 1 below.) Once inside, this moisture can lead to a variety of problems, including mold and wood rot. Excess moisture can also cause indoor air quality problems.
Figure 1: If not drained away from the house, the volume of water coming off a roof in a large rainstorm can quickly saturate the soil and wick through the foundation into the interior of the building.
Gutter System Basics
Gutter systems consist of two parts: 1) gutter channels that run horizontally along the roof edge to collect runoff; and 2) the downspouts that carry the collected water to grade level. Roofing gutters should slope down toward the downspout approximately 1 inch for every 25 feet. A slope that is less than this may not allow water to move effectively, and a much greater slope will cause the water to overflow over the end caps and corners during heavy rain.
When inspecting your gutters, make sure that they all slope toward the downspout. If you see signs of standing water in portions of the gutter the slope may be to low and if you see water overflowing from the ends of the gutter (during heavy rain), the slope may be too great.
Gutter channels are typically available in 4, 5, and 6-inch sizes. Larger sizes conduct more water at a faster rate, provided that there are enough downspouts to drain the gutter channels without overflowing.
Downspout Basics
Downspouts are usually vertical and used to carry water from the gutters to ground level. The water should be directed away from the building’s foundation, to protect the foundations from water damage. The water is usually piped to a sewer, or released into the ground through seepage. It is common to see downspouts that carry the rainwater directly onto a lower level roof (See Photo 1 below). This is not recommended, as it will deteriorate that section of the roof much more quickly that the rest of the roof. The downspout or a plastic or metal channel should be used to move the rainwater over that section of roof.
Photo 1. Downspout from upper roof releases rainwater on surface of lower roof covering. This will “wear out” that section of the roof much more quickly.
Downspouts should be checked for:
- the connection between the downspout and the gutter – the connections can come loose over the winter months due to ice formation;
- proper attachment of the downspout to the structure – the weight of from ice buildup can loosen the downspout straps;
- leakage in joints – expanding ice can loosen the joints of the downspouts. In extreme cases, the downspout seams can also be torn apart;
- impact damage to lower section of downspouts from doors of vehicles parked nearby
Downspout and Gutter Maintenance Tips:
To properly and safely maintain your home’s gutter system:
- Observe common-sense safety precautions (and enlist a spotter, if available) when using a ladder to reach the gutter system. Always maintain three-point contact, and don’t over-reach; move the ladder instead.
- Wear gloves to protect hands and arms from sharp debris, as well as from animals and insects that may be hiding in the gutters.
- A gutter scoop is a convenient tool for removing leaves and other debris.
- Cleaning gutters can take a substantial amount of water. Place a garden hose in the gutters and downspouts to flush them out, making sure that the water is directed away from the home via the downspouts. This will help reduce the chances of saturating the soil around the foundation.
- Covered gutter systems may be effective in preventing excessive debris buildup, but these are not maintenance-free.
- You can install a rainwater harvesting system (or rain barrels, if allowed in your jurisdiction) that includes a drainage mechanism to handle overflow.
If your home is surrounded by trees, they may shed their leaves onto the roof and into the gutters. So, you should regularly maintain the gutter system to prevent moisture intrusion problems.
Sourced from the U.S. Department of Energy and InterNACHI®.
House CheckUp Home Inspections – 347 838-5066 – LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, Google+