The best way to prevent damage from clogged gutters is to stop it before it starts. Checking your gutters during autumn and spring is a great time to start. If you are not sure what to look for, we have compiled a healthy gutter cleaning and maintenance checklist. If you are not comfortable using a ladder or cannot access your spouting, then we recommend a professional gutter inspection. Call us to organise a gutter inspection and cleaning.
Here are a few warning signs your gutters need cleaning:
• Look for water pooling or boggy areas
Pools of water on your lawn or near a discharge point of a downpipe are signs that water is not draining properly. It might mean you need to look at the drainage, it may also mean your downpipes aren’t connected properly. Dampness under your house is another warning sign.
• Identify any dripping or overflowing spouting
Broken spouting can start dripping. Check for water marks around the spouting. Moss likes to grow down these drips so they should be fairly easy to spot. If there is any moss or mould on the bottom of the spouting that can also indicate an issue. Dripping spouting can indicate it is not correctly fastened or there is a break in the spouting. We can replace small sections and re-fasten it for you.
• Check your spouting and downpipes are draining
If water is not draining correctly, it means you have a clog or a leak somewhere in the gutters. Shortly after rain has stopped check to see of there is any water flowing out of your downpipes.
• Check joins for moss and mould
Whilst checking your runs of spouting for drips try and inspect the joins as well. Moss and mould growing around the join can indicate there is a leak. We can re-seal joins and replace them if need be.
• Check if the spouting is secure
Is it properly secured? Does all your spouting look like it is attached to the house? Does it need new brackets? It should not be loose. Wellington is a windy city and a big gust of wind may rip it off. We can install new brackets and re-secure existing spouting. Look for barge boards. As these disintegrate the compromise the brackets holding the spouting up.
• Signs of Animal Life
Are you seeing more bugs in your house? Hearing mice? These critters could be nesting in clogged gutters. Are you seeing birds bathing in the spouting? This could indicate there is not enough fall on the spouting.
When was the last time you cleaned your gutters?
Twice a year is recommended – once in the spring and once in autumn. But there are a few factors that might make you reconsider. If you have trees growing near your house, consider inspecting your gutters every 3 months.
Check our post for 5 most common gutter issues.
