How To Keep Your Gutters And Downspouts In Good Condition

As a homeowner you undoubtedly know how important your rain gutters and downspouts are to your home. Properly working, your gutters help prevent water from seeping into your home's basement, rotting out your siding and roofing, and preventing tremendous foundation damage. But the key phrase here is 'properly working'.

To keep your gutters and downspouts working as they should, here's a few quick tips that can help along the way.

1. Take the time to inspect your entire gutter system in the Spring and again in the Fall. That's the times of the year when they can become clogged with leaves, sticks and other debris. While you're checking, look for gutters that are pulling away from the house, or downspouts that are loose. Fix anything that needs repaired.

2. Clean any clogged gutters or downspouts. This is arguably the most important tip of all. Clogged gutters are just as damaging as not having them on the house to start with. Water simply overtops them and does the same kind of damage as it would without a gutter at all.

Be sure you regularly clean your gutters to prevent backups. Downspouts need attention as well because they can easily become clogged with leaves, seed pods and small twigs and sticks. Even bird nests can be found in gutters.

3. Check to see that your rain gutters are sloped properly. Once you get up the ladder to where you can eyeball your gutter, look to see if it is sloped correctly. You can immediately look and see if they have dropped in the middle, and then work on correcting any problem areas. Sometimes it can be as simple as a nail that has come loose.

4. Look to see if your gutters need replaced due to rust or rot. Depending on the type of gutters installed on your home, they will rust out over time. Some will crack and need replacement. Be sure to check the overall condition.

5. Finally, consider installing a gutter protection system like the Gutter Brush. (Click Here to read our Gutter Brush review) It can reduce the need for gutter cleaning and help keep the channel flowing properly all year round.

These five quick tips will help to assure you that your rain gutters remain in good shape for years to come.