How to Maintain Your Gutters So They Can Protect Your Home

Roofs, windows, walls, foundations, sealants, paint: They all participate in keeping a home’s structure dry and preventing long-term water damage. But above all the items on this list are your gutters.

Not only do gutters keep your roof’s eaves from turning into waterfalls during raging Texas storms, but they also help direct water away from your home’s structure and foundation to ward off rotting, corrosion, leaks, and foundation shifting.

In the fall, gutters can become clogged with leaves. In the winter, freezing temperatures can create cracks or loosen connections. In spring — Texas’ thunderstorm season — some of this damage becomes visible. That makes this the best time of year to conduct an inspection. Here are a few questions to keep in mind when evaluating your gutters.

1. Are your gutters clear and clean?

Clogs and clutter in your gutters may be causing damage before you’re even aware of it. Scoop out any gunk — including leaves, dirt, acorns, twigs, and frisbees — you see lodged in the gutters and use a hose to flush out the downspouts. This is an important first step to assessing your gutters and preventing damage. Learn how to safely clean out your gutters here.

2. Do you see standing water?

As you flush out your gutters, notice whether any water pools or puddles in the gutter instead of flowing toward the downspouts. This would indicate that the gutter has shifted and no longer provides an adequate slope for water flow, in which case you’ll want to readjust the slope of the gutter so water flows correctly.

3. Do your gutters leak along the seams?

Leaking along the seams is common. It can be caused when sealant corrodes and easily fixed by reapplying sealant.

4. Do your gutters drip along the edge of the roofline?

Dripping along the roofline may occur as the spikes and hangers that attach the gutter to the house come loose over time. When this happens, it’s important to replace these spikes.

5. Are there drips coming from the body of your gutter?

Drips coming from the body of the gutter tend to be more serious; you may have to replace the entire section of gutter that’s damaged.

6. Are there leaks inside your home?

During heavy rain, water can work its way through the permeable seams of your home’s exterior if it’s not directed away. Leaks around windows could be an indication of gutter failure; adjust or repair your gutters to ensure that they direct water away from the house.

7. If you have a basement, does water seep in?

Water seeping in underground during rainstorms may suggest that too much water is pounding against the side of the house, meaning your gutters aren’t operating at full capacity.

8. Do you ever see a pool of standing water next to your house after rain?

Because most homes in Texas do not have basements, one common danger posed by inadequate gutter maintenance is foundation damage. Standing water is a warning sign that water isn’t being directed to drain away from the foundation.

9. Is there soil erosion near the exterior of the home?

Soil erosion may indicate that water is rushing past your gutters and digging away at the ground.

10. Is your foundation cracking?

Over time, leaky gutters and a lack of maintenance can lead to cracks in the foundation. If you see any cracks, immediately inspect and repair any nearby sections of gutter that may be damaged.

Find a complete guide to maintaining a healthy foundation here.