Gutters Emptying To The Ground

A potential hidden problem.

Gutters emptying to the ground.

If your downspouts are emptying into an area that runs uphill or tends to collect water it might be time to redirect your gutters. Some houses use downspouts that direct the flow of water downhill or down a slanted driveway. Ground the downspout can empty directly onto the ground but must be extended with flexible black tubing or pvc pipes 3 to 4 feet from the exterior of the home. Gutters need to be pitched toward the downspouts for the water to flow properly.

While the in ground drainage system might allow a certain amount of debris to enter and continue to flow allowing such debris into the system will eventually cause the system to reach capacity and will eventually clog. That line eventually emptied into the low spot in the back yard. These unprotected gutters allow debris small and large to enter the gutter travel down the downspout and into the in ground drainage. Gutters can be left upside down during ice storms preventing the formation of ice dams and leaving gutters empty to catch melting roof water.

Get on a ladder after a rainstorm and look in the gutter. The tools most commonly used to clean gutters from the ground include vacuums with a gutter cleaner extension gutter cleaning applicators gutter flusher hose attachments gutter cleaner attachments for pressure washers and leaf blower gutter cleaner attachments. There are different ways that you can channel the water in your gutters away from your home. Others have vertical pipes that either connect to a drain or run directly into the ground itself.

If there s standing water it s not pitched properly. As your home s gutters collect rain they eject it through the nearest downspout. Gutter downspouts the gutters on your home could be contributing to the mass of water collecting in your yard. Thick hinges create a gap between the gutter and fascia board keeping condensation away from wood and providing a breathing space for it to dry.

To correct this yourself you ll need to measure from the peak to the downspout. The purpose of the gutter is to remove rain water from the perimeter of the home and downspouts that end too close to the home allow thousands of gallons of water to pour into the soil leading to flooding or damp basements and crawl spaces. To prevent erosion make a rock bed around the end of the tube.