Gutter Problems Overflow

This is one of the most serious issues with gutters specifically for homeowners in cold climates.

Gutter problems overflow.

When the water hits the gutter it freezes. Ice dams are the result of snow melting off your roof and collecting in the gutter system. A 5 inch gutter is typical but 6 inch gutters are also available. Next is the size of the gutter itself.

Overflowing is one of the tell tale signs of a defective gutter system. The most common source of overflow is clogged gutters. Water falling off the roof edge runs behind the gutter or between the gutter and the building. Clogged gutters lead to overflows water spillage around the building water entry as well as gutter damage.

When the water can t pass through properly it can start to cause problems with your foundation. Overflow leads to water being channeled in the wrong direction. When gutters become clogged they can t drain properly and can start to overflow during rainstorms. The ice continues to compile and an ice dam is born.

Holes through the splash guard and the gutter. Same goes for lack of pitch which causes the water to gather in one spot rather than flowing toward an exit. If the gutter is tilting away from your house it could be causing an overflow particularly during heavy storms. Bird nests can also block the gutter channel.

Corroded leaky gutters most common. The gutters are designed to channel runoff water toward your downspouts but if something prevents that from happening the water will simply run from the roof and then spill over the sides of your gutters. This scenario builds up when leaves and loose gravel from roof tiles settle in the gutter valley. Fortunately clogged gutters are the easiest repair that can be made on your gutter runs.

Too few downspouts will tend to make the gutters overflow during a heavy rain. The overflow can result in dump walls or the destruction of the home foundation. You can find these precut gutter splash guards about 3 in brown and white aluminum at a home center but you could easily make your own out of aluminum or sheet metal and spray paint them to match your gutters. The pitch of gutter heading towards a downspout can also cause overflow if it s too steep.

Roof gutter defects list backflowing gutters.