Gutters And Downspouts Need Routine Maintenance To Function Properly

As much as we may want for things to last forever without needing to be cleaned up or repaired, this merely does not occur. You take your vehicle in for oil modifications and repairs. You fix things around your house when they break down or get used out. This is merely a part of life, and your gutters and downspouts are no different.

What Causes Gutters To Clog?

The main cause of rain gutter clogging is your home’s proximity to trees. All year, and then more intensely in autumn, trees shed leaves. Some leaves find their way onto roofs and from there, into the gutters and downspouts. The clogging is quicker and more troublesome for houses that have flat or near-flat roofs.

Other common issues that cause gutters and downspouts to clog:

• Drainage Problems – Consider that a 30-foot section of standard five-inch gutter can hold up to about 36 gallons of water at one time. All of that water is flowing toward one (or sometimes two) two-by-three inch downspout openings, then down past one or two downspout elbows before exiting the gutter system. Even in a moderate rainstorm, the large quantity of flowing water is likely to back up to some degree, which allows time for solid debris to be deposited along gutters or in downspouts.
   
• Not Enough Gutters and Downspouts – If there are not enough gutters on the sides of your home, the rainwater may overflow. This can overwork your gutters and downspouts, damaging them.
   
• A Decaying Roof – More and more over time, shingle granules will come off of your roof and begin to clog your gutters.

Gutter Downspout Elbow Clogs

Did you know that gutter elbows are an important part of gutter downspouts and gutter leaders because elbows enable gutter installation to be “tight” to the house or building.

However, gutter elbows can sometimes create their own clogging issues. Gutter downspout elbows are designed to bend and curve and this can cause dirt, shingle granules and other debris to get caught up. When gutter elbows get clogged they must be cleaned to ensure proper water drainage and avoid costly repairs to your home. Cleaning downspouts at a multi-story level can be time consuming and dangerous.

What if this task of cleaning high downspout elbows could be severely limited or even stopped all together?

The most common gutter elbow used has a 75 degree slope. This is a pretty severe turn that can catch and hold debris. If your gutter downspout elbows are causing you routine problems then consider changing them out to 45 degree elbows. 45 degree elbows are a much smoother turn that is far less likely to catch and hold debris from your roof.

If you desire your gutters and downspouts to carry out the task that they were designed to do, then you must ensure that they get regular maintenance carried out on them. When you stop to believe about how little it really costs to have a Hopkinsville, KY gutter cleaning company come out to your home, it must be clear that disregarding your gutters and letting them fall under a state of disrepair is an expensive error. Don’t let your gutters and downspouts cause you worry. The Gutter Professionals can keep your gutters in top shape, quickly and affordable.