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Your gutter system may seem simple, but it actually has several parts.  The horizontal pieces that line the edges of your roof collect rainwater as it flows down. From there, the water should drain into vertical pieces, known as downspouts, that direct it away from your home.  The goal is to deposit the water a safe distance away from your home’s foundation, thus preventing soil erosion and other damage.

Sometimes, your gutters malfunction and water doesn’t drain the way it should.  The earlier you notice a gutter drainage problem, the easier and cheaper it will be to fix.  When left long enough, these water drainage issues can easily cause thousands of dollars’ worth of damage. Here’s what to watch for:

• Gutter overflow: Debris can build up in your gutters and even clog your downspouts, causing water to spill over the sides. Overflowing gutters could also indicate that your gutters are too small or inefficient to handle the water volume flowing off your roof.

• Foundation cracks: If the ground around your foundation becomes oversaturated with water, the foundation will eventually begin to crack.  Small cracks may be the result of normal settling. Cracks that are one-eighth inch wide are more concerning, especially if they are growing.

• Attic mildew: Mold or mildew in your attic could indicate a ventilation problem, or it could be rain making its way under your roof.  If you have a serious drainage issue, moisture makes its way into your home through your basement or crawlspace, then rises and settles in the attic.

  

• Pooling water: Clogged or leaky gutters can lead to large, persistent puddles near your home’s foundation.  This issue could also be caused by a downspout that’s dumping rainwater too close to the house.  In the winter, you might notice unusual patches of ice.

• Basement leaks: A flooded basement ranks among the most obvious indicators of a drainage issue.  However, basement issues can be more subtle.  You might notice flaky mineral deposits or water stains high on the wall instead of puddles on the floor.

• Landscaping damage: When the soil around your home becomes oversaturated, the water will find other places to go. It might form trenches through your lawn and garden, washing away mulch, gravel, and other loose materials.  Plants can become overwatered and die.

Although some gutter problems are fairly easy to spot, others are less obvious.  To catch issues early, you should be proactive about cleaning and inspecting your gutters regularly.  Step outside and observe your gutters in action for a few seconds during heavy rains, noting any leaks or overflow issues.  The next day, check the perimeter of your home, nearby landscaping, walkways, and the rest of your yard for signs of a drainage issue. Check your attic and basement for signs of water damage, too.

Incorrect gutter fall

Technically, gutters don’t need to be installed with a fall (slope), but it isn’t hard to see why they should be.  If your gutters are installed perfectly level, the only thing pushing the water towards the downpipe is the force of more water running off the roof while it’s raining.  When the rain stops, however, some of that water can end up just sitting in the gutter with nowhere to go.  Worse yet, during particularly heavy rainfall, your gutters can struggle to drain the water away fast enough to stop it from overflowing.  If your gutters constantly overflow, despite there being no sign of any blockages, this could be the cause.  Having a gentle fall towards the downpipe helps to prevent these issues and greatly increases the capacity of your gutters.  But what can you do if they have already been installed without a fall?

Incorrect downpipe positioning

A downpipe (or downspout) should be installed directly above a grid/gully to allow the water from the roof to be channelled away from the buildings foundations and into the surface water drains.  If the positioning of the downpipe is off, even slightly, and not all of the water goes into the drain, it can lead to flooding issues during heavy periods of rainfall.

This will depend on how off center the downpipe is to the drain point.  If it is only slight, then adding a downpipe shoe at the discharge end can help you redirect the flow of water to where it needs to be.  If the downpipe is just discharging water onto ground in the hope that it will find its way into the drain, that can be a bigger job to fix.  You could try to install an offset bend in the downpipe to redirect it, but this could have a negative impact on the water flow rate of your system. Ultimately, to put it right, you may have to consider removing the entire downpipe and reinstalling it more directly over the drain.

 Inadequate guttering

If your guttering system is incorrectly sized for the needs of your property, it could be the reason that none of the other fixes have worked for you.  No matter how clean or well maintained the system is, if it is not designed to properly cope with the amount of water running off your roof, it is always going to fail.  The surface area of your roof, the angle of its slope, and the intensity of rainfall in your area can all greatly affect the size and style of guttering that you need.

How to fix inadequate guttering

Unfortunately, your opinions here are a bit limited.  You can try to increase the capacity of your guttering system but making sure there is a sufficient fall to the gutters and/or by adding additional downpipes or moving the existing one to the center of the gutter run.  However, once you have to start thinking about things like that, you may as well just bite the bullet and replace your guttering with a whole new, correctly sized, system.

You can fix some drainage issues yourself by cleaning your gutters or installing new pieces, such as a splash guard or downspout extension.  Others may require professional help—especially if your foundation has been compromised.  Below are a few potential solutions.  If you aren’t sure which is most appropriate for your situation, consult a reputable gutter installation company.

Downspout Extension

Installing a downspout extension allows you to put more distance between your foundation and the stormwater exiting your gutter system.  These extenders come in a variety of sizes, designs, and materials.  Some are flexible and made from vinyl; others are precut sections of aluminum pipe, crimped on one end to easily attach to a downspout elbow.  You can even find low-profile gutter downspout extensions and open-top, ramp-like designs.

Splash Guards

Also known as splash shields, splash guards attach to the front edge of your gutters, typically in a corner or roof valley where two slopes meet.  They extend upward to prevent water from overshooting or overflowing your gutters. Installing splash guards is a simple DIY job.

French Drains

You can install a French drain to supplement buried downspouts.  This underground drain system can redirect water away from oversaturated areas.  It consists of a perforated drain pipe beneath a gravel bed.  Water drains into the pipe through the perforations and is then funneled to a yard drainage area or municipal storm drain.

French drains are similar to underground downspouts, but they collect water from the ground rather than runoff from your roof.  This water management system is ideal for homes built on a slope or prone to basement leaks.  In extreme cases, a French drain may need to be cut into the basement slab and attached to a sump pump that moves water outside.

Rain Barrel

Water from your French drain or downspouts can be funneled into a rain barrel or cistern.  Rain barrels can be placed above or below the ground to collect and repurpose stormwater runoff.  For instance, you can use your rain barrel to supply water for a garden irrigation system.

Gutter Guards

The best gutter guards keep leaves, pine needles, and other debris out of your gutter system, preventing clogs and allowing water to flow through unobstructed. The cost of installing gutter guards will vary depending on the product you choose and whether you install them yourself or hire professionals.

Gutter Cleaning

Sometimes all your home needs is a thorough gutter cleaning.  You can do this yourself from a ladder or even from the ground with the right tools. Alternatively, you can hire a professional.

Your gutter system involves several parts that work to drain water away from your home’s roof, siding, and foundation.  If you notice your gutters are not draining water properly, you must take steps to correct the problem before it causes extensive damage to your home.  Common signs of improper drainage include gutter overflow, foundation cracks, attic mildew, pooling water, basement leaks, and landscape damage.

The solutions above, including downspout extensions, splash guards, French drains, rain barrels, gutter guards, and gutter cleaning, can fix many common gutter drainage problems.  For persistent problems or expert advice, consider calling a professional. These professionals can assess your home’s drainage issues, offer recommendations, and install your chosen solution.