Faulty Gutters Can Cause Severe Damage to Your Home

Before buying a new house, check the gutters in order to prevent damages to your house

Water is one of the most important threats to your home, especially the water that flows through your gutter system and downspouts. As a part of exterior home checking schedule, checking the condition of all the gutters and downspouts is very important. The major reason to have a gutter system is to ensure water is diverted away from the home’s foundation. There is always a fear of water or moisture penetration into the foundation of the home. It, therefore, becomes necessary to ensure that water is diverted away from the foundation.

Gutters, along with downspouts, are necessary for these major reasons:

• They prevent overflow of rainwater down the sides of the home causing damage to the walls and the foundation.
• They divert the water away from the areas around the home, preventing soil erosion near the foundation and the walls.

Therefore, it becomes necessary to have gutters all around the house to ensure there is no standing water to cause any damage. For the same reasons, it is necessary to have adequate number of downspouts on the roof to ensure proper and free flow of rainwater, without causing any damage to the house.



Maintaining the Gutters and Downspouts

Ensure that the home you plan to buy has undergone regular maintenance of gutters and downspouts; especially if it is in an area with extensive rainfall. Make sure that that the gutters and downspouts are free from any blockage by debris, such as dried leaves, twigs and broken branches. This will ensure free flow of water and prevent water overflow at any one point.

Gutters collect all the water that runs down from the roof and through the downspouts are discharged into the drainage system, which should further divert the water away from the home. Ensure that all gutters and downspouts direct water away from the walls of the home and from the foundation. Check to see that the gutters and downspouts are in good condition and are not broken. Repair all broken gutters and downspouts to minimize damage from rainwater.

For proper maintenance of your gutters, one needs to do the following:

• Keep the gutters and downspouts free from any debris.
• Check to see whether the gutters are damaged, loose, leaking, or misaligned, as these can cause water to be discharged along the walls of the home – causing damage.
• Ensure that the downspouts are diverting the water away from the foundation.
• If you see any peeled, chipped, or blistering paint on the gutters and downspouts, they need to be repainted.
• Check the mortar around the gutters and downspouts for any deterioration or damage.

Damaged gutters can cause considerable damage to the home exteriors and cost a huge sum for repairs. Therefore, you should check this aspect before buying a home.