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The Problems With Improperly Installed Gutters

They’re often overlooked, but they play a major role in protecting your home: Gutters. When gutters fail, they leave your home open to all sorts of damage. That damage can be serious and expensive to repair. In many homes, gutters have been improperly installed. Fully protecting your home from water and ice damage means being sure that your gutters are properly installed.The Problems With Improperly Installed Gutters - Nashville TN - Gutterman

Common Gutter Installation Problems

When inspecting your gutters to determine whether they’re properly installed, you should check for these common elements. Some common gutter installation mistakes include:

  • Improperly pitched gutters.
    Gutters need to slope toward downspouts to ensure that water will flow in the right direction. Gutters only need to slope one-quarter inch per 10 feet, so it can be difficult to spot proper gutter pitch. If gutters are backed up or have standing water then your gutter’s pitch is inadequate.
  • Poor placement of downspouts.
    Water needs to be able to exit your gutters effectively, or it will pour over the sides of the gutters in heavy rains. When gutters chronically overflow, ineffective placement of downspouts or an inadequate number of downspouts is often to blame.
  • A lack of downspout outlets.
    Your downspouts need to be able to direct the water from your gutters to the right spot. If your downspouts terminate too close to your home, without drains or splash pads, your basement will flood, and you will risk foundation damage. French drains or gutter extensions can help to save your home from downspouts that deposit water too close to your home’s foundation.
  • Missing or dropping gutters.
    Of course, the biggest mistake with gutter installation is to have missing gutters! Without gutters in place, water flows off of your roof and pools directly next to your home.

The Problem with Improper Gutter Installation

When your home doesn’t have a properly installed gutter system, all sorts of problems can result. Water can deposit right next to your home’s foundation. It can flood your basement and degrade your foundation. It can destroy your landscaping and sidewalks. Water can run down the sides of your home, causing mold growth and water rot in your walls, siding, windows, and doors. In short, you can’t afford to have improperly installed gutters on your home. A properly installed gutter system is a relatively minor expense when you consider that it can save your house from major damage that can be extremely expensive to repair.

What to do if Your Gutters aren’t Properly Installed

If you notice the signs that your gutters haven’t been properly installed it’s time to seek out a new gutter system for your home. Look out for:

  • water flooding into your basement,
  • standing water in the gutters,
  • water pouring over the edges of the gutters when it rains or gutters that are pulling away from your home.

If you are in need of a properly installed gutter system, call the Gutterman of TN to schedule an appointment today! We can properly install a gutter system that will keep your home safe from water damage.

How Winter Affects Your Gutters

Your home protects you all winter long, keeping out the ice, wind, freezing rains and freezing temperatures. But your home also requires some protection during the winter months, to stave off damage from water and freezing temperatures. You don’t want to have your home thaw out this spring only to find that your home has suffered damage from winter’s brutal weather. One of the best ways to protect your home from the damage this winter is by caring for your gutters.How Winter Affects Your Gutters - Nashville TN - Gutterman

Winter Gutter Woes

You know your gutters shuttle water around your roofline, down your downspouts and away from your home. When winter temperatures plummet, however, your gutters are sometimes unable to do their job. When water freezes in your gutters, there are several problems you could encounter:

• Ice dams. Ice dams are among the most common winter gutter problems. Heat escaping your attic melts the snow and ice on your roof. As the water runs down the roof, it refreezes along the gutter line. Over time, the ice dam can build up, damaging your home and gutter.

• Sagging gutters. The water that freezes in your gutters over the winter also can cause your gutters to sag away from your home due to the added weight. Sagging gutters can damage your roofline, or the gutters can detach entirely from your home, creating a hazard to your home and any property or person that might be surrounding your home.

• Cracked or broken gutters. Everyone knows that when water freezes, it expands. If you have standing water in your gutters and it freezes when temperatures drop, the expansion that occurs when it turns to ice can cause the seams of your gutters to crack, rendering your gutters unsightly and ineffective.

Any of these wintertime gutter problems can lead to major problems for your home. When your gutters fail, water can be forced underneath your roofline or into your walls. The water can run down the sides of your house, rotting siding, or window or door frames. If failing gutters deposit water along the foundation of your home, the result could be a cracked or damaged foundation or a flooded basement.

Protecting Your Gutters and Your Home

If you haven’t positioned your gutters to protect your home this winter, you might notice water flooding in through your walls, ceiling or basement when warmer temperatures lead to thawing ice and snow. The best way to protect your gutters and home is by keeping your gutters in good repair and cleared from debris. Seamless gutters can help you avoid cracks and leaks, while stainless steel or copper gutters are made to be long-lasting to prevent winter damage. To lessen the risk of ice dams, standing water or leaks, keep gutters free from debris with regular cleaning. Finally, install gutter guards to prevent debris from entering your gutters in the first place.

If you notice that your gutters have been damaged by snow and ice this winter, call The Gutterman of TN! We can fit your home with new gutters, or install gutter guards to keep your gutters safe from buildup and debris.