Fix Leaky Gutters
How to Fix Leaky Gutters
Gutters are used to direct rainwater to the appropriate drainage area to avoid any damage to the house or drainage and flooding problems. However, they end up collecting all other debris that ends up falling from the roof including leaves and branches. Most homeowners tend to overlook the maintenance of gutters and over time they may develop leaks at different spots. The accumulation of branches and leaves and also snow in colder climates, is bound to contribute to leaky gutters as their structure becomes weaker over time. For those who like simple do-it-yourself projects to keep their house in the best condition. Below we will look at some useful tips on how to fix leaky gutters.
Before delving into the different ways of how to fix leaky gutters, it is essential to first note that gutters exist in two different variants. There are plastic and metal gutters available today. The fact that they are made of different materials means that they require different repair methods and equipment. Homeowners should begin by inspecting their home’s gutters to find out exactly what they are made of to determine what method to follow.
Fix Leaky Gutters – Metal
In most cases, metal gutters are the norm especially for older structures. The simplest way on how to fix leaky gutters that are made of metal is to scrape the joint and clear any debris and then dry it. Once dry, use a caulking gun to inject roofing and gutter sealant. If the leak persists then, it may require more work to repair your leaky gutter as described below.
Where the leaky gutter is not repaired by a simple application of sealant, it will be necessary to dismantle the entire gutter joint clean off the old and dried up putty and then apply a new sealant. Dismantling gutters may be problematic considering that the spike and ferrules used to hang the gutters may not pull out easily without damaging the gutters. It is then going to be necessary to replace the gutters instead of repairing them.
Fix Leaky Gutters – Plastic
Leaky gutters made of plastic, on the other hand, require less work as compared to metal gutters. Plastic gutters mainly leak around unions or joints that connect to the gutters to lead water downwards. In this case the most common cause of such leaks is the accumulation of dirt that forces the gaskets sealing the union to give way.
To fix leaky gutters made of pvc, press the pipe inwards to release the clips holding the pipe leading water down to the union. Once it releases you can check to see whether cleaning the accumulated dirt will be enough to fix the leak or installation of a new gasket is required. There are also PVC gutters that you can clean the gutter joints, then dry the pvc leaky gutter joint. You fix leaky gutter joints by applying a sealant recommended for pvc gutters. Regular maintenance will prevent leaky gutters.
Frozen Downspouts
This week’s number one problem has been frozen downspouts. Weather conditions have been perfect for freezing downspouts. Once the route down is frozen, the gutters will drip over and form those pretty icicles you’ve been seeing. I have been seeing the icicles, and frozen downspouts, all over town.
What can you do about this?
Prevention: Downspouts freeze quickly if the water flow is stopped somewhere along the way.
In the recent storm, the heavy wet snow was enough to block water flow at the bottom, if the ends weren’t shoveled clear. Because of the thawing and refreezing this week, downspouts also froze up at the elbows. Prevention involves clearing the ends of the downspouts and also keeping an eye on the elbow joints.
Downspouts collected ice inside, where the downspouts were dented or bent. Long-term prevention involves checking for bends and dings in the downspouts before winter sets in.
Action: On line advice about frozen downspouts varies. Some say just leave it alone. Others recommend taking ice-melt to the gutters (see below.) A few say heat the gutters to clear them. One recommends whacking the gutter (from an upstairs window) with a baseball bat. Yet another recommends running electrical heat tape to prevent melting.
What to look for to prevent a big problem?
The main reason that you don’t want your gutters icing up is two-fold. The worst thing that can happen is for the melting ice to find its way into your house. The second worst thing that can happen is that the ice in the backed-up gutter gets heavy enough to tear the gutter off the house.
Prevention: To prevent water in your house, your roof should be installed with a sheet of rubber under it. This way, if water collects on the edge of the roof, it won’t find its way through the waterproofing. The second prevention measure is to keep your roof cold. This means insulating and ventilating your roof surface. (This is also good for lowering your heating bills.) A warm roof allows snow to melt at the bottom edge, then refreeze overnight. Then, the subsequent melting the next day increases the build-up of ice that will melt the next day, and so on. The more melting water, the more weight and pressure; these are conditions that favor water finding its easiest route down is through the wood behind your gutters. The third preventative measure is to make sure your gutters are draining well before the winter sets in. Most gutters collect leaves and debris that can impede to flow enough to allow freezing, even if the downspouts are clear. Clear and check the flow in your gutters sometime in the fall, after the leaves have fallen and before the cold sets in.
Action: If you see awesome quantities of ice collecting in your gutters and your downspouts are frozen, you may want to take evasive action. The tried and true method is to fill a stocking with ice melt and put it in the gutter. If this is a chronic problem that happens every year, using an ice rake to clear the snow near the bottom of the roof may be an option (depending on how high your roof is.)
The last-ditch and most expensive and inefficient method is to install heat tape to melt the snow and prevent the refreezing.
Frozen Downspouts
Frozen Downspouts was written by : Rona Fischman
How Often Should Gutters Be Cleaned
How often should gutters be cleaned?
It depends! Some houses can go for a couple of years between cleanings. Others need cleaning twice a year or more. Each situation is different
Develop a history
Starting out to find how often cleaning is needed the gutters and down spouts should be checked twice a year for signs of blockage, leaks and possible overflowing. If you live in a high rainfall area or have a lot of trees hanging over the house you may want to increase the frequency of checking the gutter system. As you check the system and track the need for cleaning after a season or two it will be very clear what is needed for gutter cleaning frequency
For those who can not see any of the gutters from inside the house and do not climb ladders checking the system for blockage can be relatively easy. On clear days check of signs of mold or streaking on places the gutters may over flow. Observe the siding for discolorations indicating water leaks. Just when it starts to rain go to the out let of he downspouts and if water does not flow very soon after the start of a heavy rain you know that something is blocking either the gutters or leaders. If you want to stay dry and the garden hose spray can reach the roof the same test can be done of the system by spraying water on the roof and simulating a rain, checking the water flows down the system as it saturates the roof and fills the gutter.
This way you do not have to clean the gutters more often than needed. Regardless if you are doing it yourself or paying some one to climb up and clean the gutters no one wants to waste time energy or money on something that is not needed.
Cleaning frequency
Prior to having a history on when gutter cleaning is need for a house follow this rule of thumb. Gutters and downspouts should be cleaned and checked for signs of necessary repairs at least twice a year. Typically, the best times to do this are spring when the tree seed pods and flower debris are down and fall when the leaves are down but take care not to wait so long a prolonged freeze sets in. Each year this window of opportunity can be very different. The late fall option can be difficult if put off too long and you get into snow and freezing weather were it is not safe or practical to work on gutters. If you suspect a problem or live in an extremely rainy climate, then perhaps, you should check and clean the gutters more frequently. If there are a lot of trees that are high or over hang the roof then the need for cleaning will naturally increase the frequency. Some people cannot tell in advance the need for gutter cleaning so just wait till the gutters show a problem then have them cleaned. This method can stretch out the need for cleaning but also lead to a sudden death playoff with problems in the winter being the hardest to resolve if there are freezing conditions. If you live in an area that winter is cold enough for freezing then you can get ice dams in the gutters and water pouring into the house as melting snow from the heat inside works up under the roof since the ice blocks the normal flow of water off the roof. As you keep track of how much material is removed at cleaning, how full the gutters are and if there are blocked downspouts you will know what the right frequency is. Most houses always have bad spot and areas of guttering that stays clear.
“How Often Gutters Should Be Cleaned”
Was written By Dana Huntley of Gutter Cleaning Hampton
http://guttercleaninghampton.com
How To Quiet Noisy Gutters
How to Quiet Noisy Gutters
Noisy gutters can drive you insane and you will be asking yourself “do I really need gutters on my home”? A house does not look right with out having rain gutters on it and they serve a purpose to your home. A well maintained roof will keep water out of your home, but if there are no gutters and downspouts on your home the water running off your roof will enter your home thru the basement. So, the answer is yes. You do need gutters on your home. How to quiet noisy gutters is the question you need answered.
If your have noisy gutters from water overflowing, you will need to do a few things to the gutters on a regular basis. If you have had a storm and branches or leaves get into the gutters then, when the rain gathers in the gutters, it will not flow properly out of your seamless gutters. This will cause either a waterfall over the gutters. If you do not want to take the time out to clean out the gutters on a regular basis you will want to place a rain gutter covering over it. This will catch all the leaves and branches and stop them from getting into the gutter itself.
Leaking joints is another reason for dripping gutters. Although this may not cause any noise, it will depend on what is underneath the drip. This may not make your list of how to quiet noisy gutters, but it still will need to be fixed. A small leak over time can cause extensive damage to your home.
Not only would you need to keep the gutter cleaned out but if you want to solve the annoying dripping problem that creates noisy gutters that can last long after it stops raining, you can do a couple of different things to help this. You can place decorative down spout chains on the down spout to give the rain a place to flow instead of the rain water falling for several feet, then hitting the down spout elbow and making the annoying noise. You can also put an insert in the elbow that will quiet noisy gutters.
When you have a noisy gutter you will want to fix the problem quickly because that noise can drive you bananas especially if those noisy gutters are outside your bedroom. Even though gutters are extremely important pieces to the structure of the house, they do not have to be annoying or hard to live with. You can have quiet gutters if you just take the time to install the inserts into your downspouts elbows or put up a decorative down spout chain. This is how to quiet noisy gutters.
Gutters and Downspouts
Gutters and Downspouts A Look of Distinction
A house is not a house without gutters and downspouts. The roof of a structure can be rendered useless without gutters and downspouts. They are what I call the indispensables given their importance. Going beyond its fundamental function, a house cannot aesthetically be acceptable without gutters and downspouts. It just doesn’t feel right if you ask me. I don’t think builders and architects will ever push through a project without these two in the plan. It is downright silly and utterly wrong.
In the same way, I am pretty sure architects are using these two to accentuate the color scheme of the house that they are designing. In fact, I believe most homeowners are trying different ways to highlight their gutters and downspouts. The reason for this is that it gives them a certain taste of distinction. It differentiates and highlights the features of their house. The angles are the most common head turners. It creates a powerful impression of the size and architectural design that is present in the building.
Looking at modern architectural concepts, some downspouts are shaped in line with the shape of the house. Some are even in tune with the color scheme, design concept and roofing structure. Others, well they just like to make it stand out. Gutters and downspouts usually create a powerful illusion that makes the roof discontinuous with the walls. Attractive roofing will not stand out as you need these two together to complement its design.
Given this scenario, the function of the gutters and downspouts now goes beyond collecting water. If it is not properly maintained, the image of the house can be severely damaged. It can destroy interior and exterior walls, ceiling and even the roof. If the downpour is heavy, floor tiles can also be critically damaged. If the gutters and downspouts are clogged, water will flow down like a river from the roof leaving water marks in the painted wall. This is why they cannot and should never malfunction. The danger it creates is just the starting point. If these remained unfixed, the house will look dilapidated and old. Total renovation will be required if this happens. Sometimes even a reconstruction is inevitable. In fact, a lot of houses nowadays just leave leaking gutters and detached downspouts. This should never be the case. These structures should always be fixed and given its due attention. Cost must be secondary at this point given that the ambiance, the feel and the value of the house is directly related to these two.
How can the house be considered a prime estate if the most noticeable part is destroyed? I don’t think anyone will invest on a property that has a leaking roof or with flowing water similar to Niagara Falls. Point of the matter still remains; never miss out on the most distinguishing part of the house, the gutters and downspouts. It is important to constantly look for ways on how maintain these integral parts. It is also very critical to note that gutters and downspout gives a certain flavor to the house. It separates the average from the great ones.
6″ Rain Gutters
What You Need to Know About 6″ Rain Gutters
The roof is among the most important, but frequently neglected parts of the house. It has the significant component and that’s the 5″ or 6″ rain gutters, which performs different functions, from protecting the house basement to the topsoil and other parts where damages due to the rain are possible.
Rain gutters are mainly composed of 2 main parts – the gutter and the downspout. There are also 2 kinds of rain gutters – seamless and sectional. The latter is pop riveted together if it is aluminum. If the rain gutters are galvanized or copper they can be pop riveted or soldered together. The seamless type features seams for the downspouts and corners. As the seamless type lasts longer and is leak proof, it’s preferred by many people these days. Soldered copper rain gutters will last the longest, but the cost keeps it from being the preferred material. A professional contractor is needed to manufacture the 6” seamless gutter on site.
What is the purpose of 6″ rain gutters?
As its name suggests, a rain gutter is a trough situated at the bottom edge of the roof to gather and control rain water run-off. This way, the foundation of the house is protected from becoming flooded by water. Rain gutters come in various shapes, types and sizes. These include half-round or U shapes and K configurations.
Many residential rain gutters are available in 2 sizes – 5” and 6” and are made of galvanized steel, copper or aluminum. The usual 5” K-style rain gutters come with 2” by 3” downspouts. 6” rain gutters, on the other hand, use a 3” by 4” downspout.
One foot of a 5” inch K-style rain gutter can hold 1.2 gallons of water. For the 6” rain gutters, it can hold 2.0 gallons of water. Seamless aluminum is the most common residential gutter type. Initially only offered in silver, early aluminum rain gutters were painted white and ultimately painted in different colors to match the roof, trim and house siding, making rain gutters not just useful, but also a design feature.
Shopping For 6″ Rain Gutters
The most common materials are copper, aluminum, and galvanized steel. Determine which material suits your home. Steel is more affordable than copper, but it’s not as durable. Copper can be expensive and is used for certain types of houses, it is the most attractive. But regardless of the material you choose, make sure to pick the thickest material that you can afford. Keep in mind that the thicker the gutter material, the more durable and stronger it will be.
When shopping for rain gutters, the size is always an important consideration. Gutters are usually available in 5″ and 6″ sizes. 6″ rain gutters are best for those people with larger roofs as they can hold more water. If you live in an area that experiences a lot of rainstorms, you may consider using 6″ rain gutters.
Another consideration is the type of rain gutter you will get. The most popular type is the K-style, but you can also go for square-shape and half-round ones. Your choice will depend on your home’s design. Copper gutters are left in their natural state. The patina over the years will give your home a look of distinction. If using aluminum or galvanized you will need to pick a color. You may pick a color to match the current color of the roof. The most common choice is to match the color of the trim of your home. Another choice can be to pick an accent color that is different then the trim of your home.
The Purpose Of 6″ Rain Gutters
You 6″ rain gutters will serve 2 purposes. First to protect your home from the damage that can be caused by water. Second rain gutters will give your home a look of class. Pick a color and size that will make you proud of your home.
Spring Gutter Cleaning
Spring Gutter Cleaning
Spring is just around the corner. Are your gutters ready? The main and primary task of the gutters is to divert the rain away from your home and the foundation. It is important that you do the spring gutter cleaning to prepare for the upcoming rainy season. Experts say that spring gutter cleaning must be done in order to avoid roof damage and costly repairs.
It’s that time of year when a spring gutter cleaning is almost always needed, especially with the new shedding of leaf debris and seeds from spring budding branches. Recent winter storms can also blow branches, pine needles and roofing debris into gutters, causing potential rainwater overflow. Also the winds of February take their toll on your gutter system also. These repairs need to be done to allow for proper drainage.
Spring is coming fast. Meaning there are lots of home projects needing your attention. And one part of your home that is overlooked most often is in the gutters. Spring gutter cleaning is an essential part of keeping your home in a good condition. For busy homeowners, spring gutter cleaning is perhaps taken for granted.
The main issue is, a lot of homeowners delay spring gutter cleaning until there is an issue, or so much debris has gathered in the gutter. Sad to say, taking for granted the gutter or waiting until you notice an issues prior to fixing it will make the situation worse, especially during the spring gutter cleaning season.
If the gutter is clogged it can wreck your home with water drainage. This damage can be to roofing, fascia, and soffit and even start leaking directly into the home. Moreover, water damage could ruin the foundation of the house that can lead to serious problems. You have to avoid this from happening.
Some of the advantages of spring gutter cleaning take account of the following:
· It keeps your home safe from water damage.
· It prevents the birds, termites, mosquitoes from creating their nesting places.
· It keeps the beauty and value of the property.
Spring Gutter Cleaning Guides
- Start through scooping out twigs, loose leaves, pine cones, mud and any debris which can clog up the gutter.
- Pay attention to cleaning out the drain spout in order to release water build up from previous rain.
- Utilize a water hose and then spray your gutter to eliminate stubborn mud and dirt. Make sure to use a hose that is capable to produce lot of force so as push properly debris out of the gutter.
- Dissembling the downspout may be necessary to clear and clean hard to reach corners and eliminate clogs.
Spring gutter cleaning takes account of getting up on your roof where falls from defective ladders can happen. The suggestion of many experts is to get the service of reliable and skilled rain gutter technician in order to avoid injuries and at the same time to make sure that the job is done fast and accurate. A lot of companies offer spring gutter cleaning services and upkeep.
Maintain a schedule of fall and spring gutter cleaning every year. A lot of gutter cleaning companies even have a yearly program wherein homeowners can sign up to have regular gutter cleanings. Some homes may need their gutters cleaned more often. This will keep you and your property safe from clogged gutters and the water damage from clogged gutters.
Gutter Systems Part Of Home Maintenance
Gutter Systems Part Of Home Maintenance
Home maintenance is an integral component of our lives and as homeowners it is very important to ensure that our house is in tiptop shape. We cannot stick to the old adage, “if it isn’t broken, don’t fix it” mentality given that it is not simply rational to let the house fall apart. The “it’s still okay” syndrome will do more harm than good and will be very costly for us in the long run.
The most common repair and maintenance project on any house is the roof and gutter system. This is due to the fact that these sections are the most exposed part to extreme weather conditions. No matter how tough and expensive the materials you used for these, Mother Nature will definitely take a toll on it whether you like it or not.
Most frequently replaced between these two are the gutters. Over time, the gutter system usually gets damaged due to the volume of water and accumulation of debris like leaves, twigs and stuff. If you try to analyze it, the look and feel of a house is very much dependent on the state of its gutters. A leaking and damaged gutter system appears to generate an impression that the house is very old and poorly maintained. It immediately brings down the value of the house and it also lowers the aura of the human inhabitants.
This is the reason why, this needs to be immediately fixed even before it is fully broken. Remember, it’s a system. One panel breaks down, everything else follows.
Types Of Gutter Systems
The common issue here is cost and it is always the main barrier for it to be fixed. There are two alternatives to choose from when replacing and installing the gutter system. First, there is the seamless gutter system, which is commonly installed by professionals and the other, the traditional pre-made gutters that you can buy from any hardware store. Both systems can be installed by a professional or by a handyman like yourself.
The most common is aluminum given that they don’t rust similar to the old galvanized gutters. There are several colors but white and brown are the standard trim. Custom colors are available to match your house.
Seamless gutter and Traditional Pre-Made gutter have both pros and cons. Seamless gutter systems have lesser tendencies to develop leaks because they are made on-site. The only places they can leak are at the end caps or a miter. If you are planning on installing them yourself, this will raise another problem. You will need to find a contractor with a gutter machine that is willing to come out and run out the seamless gutters. The pre-made gutters need to be short enough for you to haul from the store to your home. These lengths can be from 10’ – 30’. The choice of hangers will be limited by the store stock. Buying on line will give you the largest choice.
Every joint is an increased chance of a leak. Seamless gutter system is your best choice when doing home maintenance.
Gutters and Downspouts are critical for proper water drainage
Gutters and Downspouts are critical for proper water drainage
Have you ever seen a house with no gutters and downspouts? It will be like going back in time where people thought the world was flat and they rode in horse and buggy’s going to and from the market. The history of the gutters and downspouts cannot be accurately pinpointed. Who knows where they started and frankly who cares?
For perspective, gutters and downspouts are part of the house’s water collection system that is not located on the ground but rather connected to the roof. Gutters specifically are structures that act as temporary reservoirs and pathway to ensure that water does not enter your home during a rain shower. Imagine a house with its current roof shape without them; it will be like fountain drenching anyone located below.
Gutters are an integral part of the house. However, they are meaningless and useless without downspouts. How in the world will water go down the drainage system if there is no connecting vehicle? Water will just seep through the wall and damage the exterior. Downspouts are pipes that connect the roof to the ground. They are equally important because they ensure that water doesn’t stay very long in the gutters and they serve as water highways going down the drain and away from your home.
These two components are an important aspect in the water drainage system of the house. High volume of rain is expected especially during extreme weather disturbances. Gutters and downspouts need to function well during these times. Otherwise they will do a lot of harm to your home and landscape. If the gutters are clogged, it will result into stagnant water. Rainwater is not essentially dirty but when it gets parked in the gutter, things change. Disease carrying insects breed causing debilitating and even life threatening illnesses. Moisture attracts bacteria and its build up has the potential to infect people on the ground. It can also damage the fascia and soffit structure of the home thereby increasing your cost of maintenance. It can damage a bigger part of your wall which can definitely lower the value of your home. It can also be an accident risk as water is very heavy. If the gutter cannot carry the weight anymore, chances are, it will fall and hit someone on the ground. Downspouts are also critical. If there is blockage in the pipes, nothing goes through. It will create a domino effect resulting into stagnant water in the gutter.
Downspouts and gutters are an important component of the house. You cannot have a structure standing without them. They are an indispensable part of your home and any building for that matter. Never try to short change on their quality as it will produce terrible effects in the long run. They should also be effectively maintained and repaired whenever they are damaged. At the end of the day, building a structure without them is like a disaster waiting to happen.
Why You Need to Maintain Your Gutters
Why You Need to Maintain Your Gutters
Do you hate home repairs? I don’t think many of us really like them, but they are a necessary part of owning your own home. One of the most important tasks of maintaining your home is the need to clean your gutters, especially prior to, and even during winter. Clogged and badly maintained gutters can cause you more trouble than you may think.
First let’s understand the purpose of a gutter. Its primary function is to remove moisture away from the house and direct it to a place where it will cause no damage to the home or to the property in general. A badly directed water flow could lead to erosion in the driveway or landscaping and that is no good either.
Failure to maintain your gutters leads to four primary problems:
Gutter damage: If gutters are not properly maintained, then they will eventually become blocked by debris such as leaves and dirt. This debris does not allow water to flow through the gutter, causing it to build up and eventually overflow. The overflow will lead to sagging in the gutter which will cause permanent damage to the gutter itself. Over time, these sections will deteriorate so much that they will break away and leave gaps within your gutter system.
House Damage: By not maintaining your gutters, you actually risk causing damage to your home. There are many ways that water can damage your home. As I mentioned before, if water is not directed away from the home it can seep under the foundation causing erosion. This can lead to the home leaning or cracking, the driveway cracking, or water flowing into your basement, causing flooding or water damage. If the water is overflowing the gutter system, it can run down walls to your home damaging paint, siding, windows, and window frames. Blockages can also lead to the gutter becoming so heavy that they begin to pull away from the house, causing structural damage to the home and roof, where the gutter was attached. This can lead to water coming into the home, damaging the inner walls and insulation. It also can mean that the affected areas may grow mold and cause a health risk to you and your family.
Roof Damage: As I previously mentioned, blockage like this can cause damage to the roof. If the gutter becomes too heavy that it pulls away from the home, it may also pull away shingles and other roofing materials, causing a leak in your home. This will allow water to enter the home. But this is not the only problem the roof may face. If the water builds up in the gutter, so that it runs under the roof, it may cause rotting. Rotting may lead to the roof collapsing, especially if you live in an area where it is below freezing during the winter. If water is allowed to back up onto the roof and cause rotting, when that water later freezes, it will be heavier and is more likely to cause the roof to give way, leading to very expensive amount of damage.
Unexpected Damage: Not properly maintaining your gutters also has consequences you may not have considered. If you live in a cold weather area, water that accumulates in areas near your home may become frozen, which can lead to injuries from slipping and falling. Water build-up is a great breeding ground for mosquitoes and mold, and can lead to health problems. It also will attract insects that need a moist environment. Those animals may cause other problems to your home, like raccoons getting into your garbage, or squirrels building nests in your walls.
This clearly shows you why it is so important to have your gutters cleaned. It is well worth the investment to make sure you clean your gutters well.
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