Rain Gutters and Downspouts

By Frank G. Ross

Gutters and downspouts collect water and divert it away from the base of the house. Gutters are an important aspect of exterior water management for residential homes. Uncollected rainwater can erode the soil around the foundation, prematurely wear a roof surface and allow excess water to splash up on the side walls of houses. This water can cause painted exterior surfaces to peel, wood framing and siding to rot, masonry walls to effloresce and foundations to settle. Water falling from even a low roof has an enormous amount of energy that allows the water to slowly cause damage over a period of time.

As with many other household systems, the key to long-lasting gutters is maintenance.  Keeping them clean, that is free of debris like asphalt shingle granules or leaves, is the single most important thing you can do. Full or blocked gutters can cause overflowing and stains along the side of a house, rusting and deterioration of the gutters, roof leaks, water damage and dry rot. Homeowners could avoid paying thousands of dollars for these types of repairs if they would just clean their gutters twice a year.

Many tips and techniques for cleaning gutters result from a quick internet search.  Keeping in mind that safety is the first rule of any do-it-yourself project, the basics are as follows: Using a ladder, reach into the gutter and remove all leaves and debris. Gloves are recommended for this task.  Next, take a hose with a high pressure nozzle and wash old water and dirt down the downspouts. Then run the hose into the downspout to make sure it is clear. It is important to clean all larger material out before washing -- do not try to wash it down the downspouts. This can cause heavy blockage in the downspout and if the gutters are connected to an underground drain pipe, the blockage can occur underground which can be very expensive to remedy.

This is the ideal time to check for leaks. They are commonly found at seams or where the gutters and the downspout are connected. They are easy to fix with a gutter or flashing sealant type product.

A second common problem to look for is loose gutters, caused by the gutter hangers or nails working loose from the fascia board. Repairing this might simply be a matter of substituting specialized gutter hangers for the loose nails. In many instances, however, the fascia may be rotted, causing the gutter nails or hangers to be loose. In this case the guttering must be removed, and new fascia installed, then the guttering reinstalled. A metal gutter apron flashing might also be needed.  This flashing is placed under the shingles and over the back edge of the gutter to prevent water from running behind the gutters and rotting the fascia. 

Another problem I often see is gutters without end caps.  These are usually found where gutters drain runoff from a secondary roof like a dormer window to the main roof.  Without end caps and downspouts, water can prematurely wear that section of the roof.  Also if the water is exiting the gutter forcefully enough it can find its way under the shingles or tiles to cause further damage.

The last but not least common problem is loosened or disconnected downspouts. Downspouts should be diverting water away from the house. Be sure they are properly connected with no gaps that would allow debris to fall into them. Downspouts should be extended away from the house and water should be diverted to a downhill slope. If extending the downspout is necessary, do not use screws to attach new pieces, this can cause blockages. Use rivets to fasten them together. A splash block placed at the end of the downspout will help to minimize soil erosion.

Frank Ross is a Certified Utah Home Inspector for Pillar to Post Professional Home Inspection and a full member of the National Association of Certified Home Inspectors and a member in good standing with the Utah Better Business Bureau.  Readers may contact Mr. Ross at (435) 867-6400 or frank.ross@pillartopost.com