By AJ Fagan | Superintendent of HIWA Inc.

That’s right! Every year in the fall that part of your house that you rarely consider or even notice until that first hard rain. Your gutters.

We go in and out of our homes every day and walk past those down spouts. If you are anything like me, you occasionally notice them throughout the year but you pay no attention to them until water is streaming over the front of one because the inlets or downspouts are plugged. Then, they suddenly become one of the most important parts of your home.  

In our area there are lots of trees, leaves, and pine needles. These are constantly dropping on roofs and sliding into those waiting troughs that we call gutters. If you have owned a home for any time at all you know the pain of trying to clean those gutters out. And if they have been neglected for a year or more, the effort required to return them to their previous glory is significant.

Why Gutters Matter

I know what you are thinking. “What’s it hurt? Everything is getting wet anyway. I will  just let the water run over the sides and when the sun comes out, I can forget about it.” I wish I could say that you are right. It would be a lot easier than gutter cleaning and maintenance. But the truth is that a little water running over the sides actually is a big deal for a few reasons. Let me explain the importance of your rain gutter system.

We all know that gutters are often down one or both sides of a house and at the bottom of most sloped roofs. But you may have noticed that some older homes, or even some new homes under construction don’t have gutters. What you will also notice is that mud has splashed up onto the exterior walls, and while it does look unsightly there is more going on here than just a little rain water. The mud and debris begins to fill little nooks and crannies where the water flows and the exterior siding begins to hold water, or water manages to find its way into places it had not before as a result of this debris. 

Additionally, you will find homes without gutters often do not have any water diversion away from the soffit or eves and water intrusion begins to happen as paint fails and dry rot sets in.   The same thing happens with improperly maintained gutters. Gutters are fully functional and are designed to pull water away from the structure and carry it to the ground and away from the foundation of the home all while leaving the surrounding area undisturbed. When gutters are working properly, they are nearly silent and they protect your home. 

What you should look for before the rain begins:

Inspect inside the gutter. Look inside. If it is not clean and smooth, run a leaf blower down it or a water hose if there is limited sediment.  

Inspect outside the gutter. Look for rust holes or loose seams that will allow water out where it does not belong.

Run water down those downspouts. If it comes out the bottom they are ready. If not, you can use a drain snake or leaf blower to remove the clog.  

Inspect areas where gutters and walls meet. Many times in our area, gutters will end right up against a wall. And if the roof was installed correctly, there will be a small piece of metal flashing that kicks the water out away from the wall to divert water into the gutter. Make sure this “kickout” is sufficiently diverting water away from the structure and into the gutter.