Home Maintenance Monday 4/7/25: April Showers Are a GREAT Time to Check Gutters & Downspouts!
It's been raining the last few days here in the Willamette Valley, and that makes this a great time to get a view of your gutters to determine if they are draining properly!
A roof is only effective at keeping water out of your home if the water drains away from it properly: quickly and efficiently. We often don't think about doing repairs on our homes until the summer months when it's dry and it can be much harder to determine if there are any wet spots in our gutters when the rain has gone away... Making NOW the best time to see if this vital roofing system is properly functioning at your home!
One of the easiest approaches is to climb up a ladder and check down your gutters for any standing water, debris and blockages. For those of you who do not want to get up on a ladder, you can use Binoculars, a Smartphone, Camera/Telescopic Camera or even a drone to take a look at your gutters. If you don't have any of these tools though, you can still do an effective inspection of your gutters even just from the ground!
What can you see from the ground? Go around your home and scan your gutters visually. Do you see any:
-Water Stains: Any signs of water staining on exterior walls below gutters can be a sign of gutter over-flows.
-Leaks and Cracks: Go out during an active rain shower or shortly thereafter and look for any water seeping through seems or cracks.
-Rust and Corrosion: If you can see rust on any metal gutters, this is a sign of deterioration that could mean leaks either present or in the future.
-Sagging or Detached Gutters: If it's sagging water might be pooling and detachments should be corrected with proper grading when spotted.
-Focus on Downspouts: This is a common area for blockages and clogs. If water is not flowing freely through the downspout then that could be a sign of a blockage somewhere above. If your gutters overflow water can stand on the edges of your roof or overflow towards your home.
If you're brave enough to put a ladder up between the rain showers, you can check your gutters for:
-Accumulated Debris: Leaves, twigs, dirt and even pest nests can block the flow of water away from your roof and home.
-Pest Nests: Gutter and downspout structures can be especially attractive places for birds, insects, and many forms of mammalian nesting species to build their homes. Unfortunately, your home is not an ideal location for their home!
-Blocked up downspouts: If these aren’t flowing properly, water can back up and damage your home. (See above.)
-Any standing water! Gutters should be kept as clear as possible and hung at a proper angle to ensure quick and efficient drainage. If gutters are holding water, there is a problem with blockage or grade.
Unless you're a DIY enthusiast, call in a professional if you find any severe damage to your gutters and downspouts. Anything that's sagging, detached, cracked or rusting should be addressed sooner than later. If your gutters or downspouts are chronically blocked, you may benefit from a gutter guarding system that blocks the debris on your roof from flowing into your gutters and downspouts.
This is a vital home systems check that is good to keep an eye on during wet periods. If you can spot any gutter or drainage issues when they are beginning you can prevent expensive and obnoxious to repair water damages to your home. So make a mental note to get out there this week to take a good look at those gutters to protect your investment in your home!
Resources:
"How to Inspect Gutters Without a Ladder: A Comprehensive Guide" web article found at: https://www.gutteritup.com/how-to-inspect-gutters-without-a-ladder-a-comprehensive-guide/ds