Your gutters are designed to effectively channel water away from your property. But if your gutters become clogged by debris, water won’t have anywhere to go other than over the edge.
Although it may seem simple enough, it helps to know what’s contributing to a clogged gutter. Most debris is organic material like twigs, leaves, and branches.
Have a gutter clog on your hands? Continue reading to learn how a clog can impact your property—and how Westchester Gutter Cleaning can help.
Why You Shouldn’t Ignore Overflowing Gutters
Your gutters are your first line of defense against rainwater. If your gutters are overflowing, excess water will pool around the foundation of your home, which can lead to mold growth and structural issues.
Whatever you do, don’t ignore overflowing gutters. If you ignore your overflowing gutters, you can expect larger, more costly consequences that could’ve been avoided with maintenance. Below are a few reasons why you should never put gutter cleaning on the back burner.
Damaged Siding
When water spills over the edges of your gutters, it can land on your home’s exterior siding. A large amount of water that comes in frequent contact with your siding can actually stain or damage the materials. It’s a good idea to repair the siding and fix your gutters as soon as you notice an issue.
Foundation Damage
Since gutters protect the perimeter of your home from rainwater, there’s potential for foundation damage. When water isn’t removed from the base of your home, water will have no place to go. Once water spills over the edges of your gutters, it will pool around your foundation, affecting the slabs and even promoting mold growth.
Washing Out Landscape
Overflowing water can cause vegetation or plants to die. This impacts the look of your home landscape.
In addition to aesthetics, stagnant water can attract unwanted pests like ticks and mosquitoes. It takes extensive time, effort, and money to mitigate mosquitoes and termites in this setting.
Rotting Wood
Most structural elements within a home are made out of wood, so it is important to curb water damage. Water-heavy structures can rot, crumble, or lessen in durability when touched by water. Prevent wood from rotting by having us at Westchester remove and mitigate waterlogged wood.
Common Signs Your Gutters Are Overflowing
Other than clogged leaves and a slow-moving water flow, what are the signs of a clogged gutter?
Overflows signal a functional issue with your gutters. Look out for a malfunctioning downspout, loose-fitting gutters, and water spillage.
These all signal a need for professional gutter cleaning or repair service immediately.
Here are a few common signs that your gutters might be overflowing:
Clogged Gutter Downspout
Clogged downspouts are obvious signs of overflow. When your downspout cannot funnel water properly, there’s a good chance it’s overfilled with debris.
Think about the last time you tried draining water down a clogged drain. The same goes for gutter downspouts. To fix this, you’ll need to remove debris from the downspout.
Incorrect Gutter Pitch
The pitch of your gutter system allows it to funnel water properly. The more focused the pitch, the better water flow will be.
At Westchester, we’re skilled in identifying and repairing an incorrect gutter pitch. A specialist will simply readjust the pitch of a gutter to reinstate its functionality.
Loose Gutters
Loose gutters indicate that you have a significant amount of debris and standing water. In fact, the weight of excessive debris and water can cause your gutter system to sag.
Gutters loosened by weather or physical impact need to be re-secured to work properly. It’s best to call us at the first sign of a loose gutter, as this will exponentially increase their lifespan.
Fascia Board Damage
Gutters are positioned to sit inside a wooden panel called fascia. Fascia can rot and pull away from the roof if the gutters are overflowing.
A great way to prevent fascia board damage is to perform routine maintenance on your gutters, having the board checked for rot as well.
Clogged Underground Drain
If flooding becomes an issue and not just a downspout problem, it’s clear that there’s a foundation issue at hand. Underground drains are in charge of removing water at ground level, further protecting against foundational issues.
So, if you notice that water has begun to pile up around all areas, your underground drains likely need repair.
Water Going Over the Gutters?
If water seems to be flowing over your gutters, there are only a few reasons that this could be happening. Gutter overflow could be chalked up to one or more of the following problems.
Gutter Covers
Sometimes, gutter covers are counterintuitive. Although made to protect your gutters from debris, they could be the reason for uneven water flow or clogs.
Talk to a specialist about whether or not your home truly needs gutter covers. They may recommend getting rid of them completely.
Roofing Valleys/Roofing Seams
Multiple roof panels joined together is called a roofing valley. These valleys can act as another channel for water flow. If your roof’s valleys are causing excess water, you might want to consider a splash guard or larger gutters.
Obstructions
Obstructions like branches, twigs, and leaves can block water flow and cause spillage. With nowhere else to go, water will spill over the edges of your gutters and onto your property.
Roof Pitch/Shingle Over Hang
The steeper your roof pitch is, the harder it will be for your gutter system to channel water away. Shingles that overhang above your gutters may also affect water flow.
Gutter wedges may help readjust gutters to the correct pitch. As far as shingles go, this may require the assistance of a professional roofing contractor.
Steps to Take When Clean Gutters Still Overflow
Sometimes gutters can still malfunction—even when clean. Professional gutter care can provide the necessary steps to lead you toward a working system.
There are a few DIY steps you can take to mitigate gutter overflow that doesn’t require money. In the case of overflowing, clogged, or malfunctioning gutters, try these simple solutions:
Adjust the Width of the Gutters
Many times, overflows happen because your gutters are too small. Try replacing your current gutters for a set with a larger width and see if water flow improves.
Adjust the Pitch of the Gutters
Pitch is just another word for “angle.” Try pushing your gutters up or down a few inches, as this will have a large impact on the speed at which water is removed. Contact us for more information about how to re-pitch your gutters.
Adjust the Tilt of Gutters
Gutter tilt is similar to pitch, but “tilt” refers to how much a gutter is tilted toward a downspout. Try the same process of re-adjusting gutters to fit your desired angle or water flow preference.
Add More Gutters
If your roof is large, you might simply need more gutters to remove water efficiently. Explore your gutter installation options with us at Westchester.
Adding more gutters to your home gutter system can instantly increase the speed, efficiency, and reach of your gutters.
Add an L-shaped Splash Guard
L-shaped splash guards act as a way to redirect rain in the right direction. Although you can get one at your local hardware store, we recommend having one professionally installed. Installing splash guards by yourself may result in a less-than-desirable outcome.
Explore Your Gutter Restoration Options
Pro Tips for Maintaining Healthy Gutters
You should always be proactive about gutter maintenance and knowing how to unclog gutters is a great start. Easy preventative steps include things like removing debris, checking gutter pitch, and installing wider gutters.
Some seasons may produce heavier amounts of debris than others, such as autumn. Because leaves and other organic matter can fall directly into your gutters, it’s important to think about these tips as the seasons change:
- Clean gutters after leaves begin to fall
- Watch for and remove ice dams
- Explore gutters guards
- Consider an L-shaped splash guard
Hiring a Reliable Contractor
Maintaining reliability for over 20 years, we’re homeowners' first defense against gutter failure. When water begins to unexpectedly pile up around your home, look to us to be your locally available solution.
We pride ourselves on being the trustworthy gutter experts in your area. Honest, accessible, and efficient, there isn’t a gutter we can’t remediate. Whether you need an inspection or full repair, our specialists know how to restore a clogged gutter.
Contact Westchester Gutter Cleaning now or fill out a quick form to get a free estimate.
