4 Causes Of Overflowing Rain Gutters

Having clean, operational gutters means that when it rains the water will flow through the gutter and out the downspout. Additionally, clogged or backed-up drains could lead to the water backing up into your home’s foundation, the siding, and fascia and could lead to mold growth or structural damage.

Overflowing gutters are readily evident to a homeowner, but when it happens it is something that should be addressed as soon as possible, especially if you notice the water running into the home itself. When you talk with a roofing professional you will likely want to know, “Why aren’t the gutters flowing freely now? They were up until this point?” Your roofing contractor in Florida explains there are four reasons why this might happen and they include :

1. There simply may be too much rain for your existing gutters to handle. There is no way to control the amount of rain, but once it’s over you may want to invest in better, larger rain gutters to keep up with the next deluge.
2. If the gutters are clogged with leaves, twigs or other debris that will prevent the rain from being able to flow freely. Rather than flowing down the gutters and out the down spouts, the water will simply overflow once it reaches the blocked area. Again, this type of blocking and the water’s inability to flow freely could lead to damage of your home.
3. There is a “formula” that roofing contractors employ to understand where the gutters should be placed. They will give the house a once over and look at the slope of the roof and the house itself and will recommend gutters and downspouts to address your unique situation. If you have existing gutters and find they simply can’t keep up with recent rainfall events, talk with a roofer about having more, or larger, gutters installed.
4. Check the downspouts. Just as the gutters themselves can become clogged so, too, can the downspouts. If they get clogged and the water backs up it can erode the foundation of the home or could even back up into the basement or other levels of the home. You can choose oversized downspouts or you can make certain you check the downspouts periodically and clean out any debris that may be gathered inside. Be advised that a downspout may also serve as an ideal hiding space to a rodent who may build a nest in it when it’s dry.

If you notice any issues with your downspouts, you can either make an attempt to clear them of debris yourself or call a roofing professional to undertake the task for you.