Unfortunately, gutter overflow is a common problem caused traditionally by blockages or the tilting of the gutter too far inwards or too far away from your home. It’s a problem that occurs mainly during Australia’s rainy season (currently underway) and can lead to all sorts of damage such as clip damage and pretty extensive roof damage, inviting the rain to join you inside your home! This, as well as large repair bills, is undesirable, so it is important to know some easy ways to spot and fix this issue, before or after it occurs.
1) Check the position of your gutter
The most indicative sign of oncoming overflow can be the positioning of the gutter. A healthy gutter should cling securely to the roof at a reasonable angle, ready and waiting to carry all excessive water away from your home. An unhealthy gutter, on the other hand, would demonstrate to you a tilt either too far towards or away from your roof. This means that it is unable to collect and prevent excess water from seeping through to the inside of your house.
A common cause of overflow is the collection and cluttering of natural materials and debris in your gutter. This is because it prevents the leftover rainfall from successfully draining. Yet this is an easy solve! Using a ladder to reach your gutters, remove all invading instances of debris. This is a practice that would be helpful to regularly undertake – particularly after harsh weather – to prevent future build-up.
Simple products such as shutter guards are practical and important installations to protect your gutters from overflowing. Without interfering with the natural look of your home, they protect advancing natural debris from clogging up your gutter, leading to the aforementioned problems.
4) Check for gutter clips
Gutter clips are also another product that can be used to protect your gutters from overflowing. However, if your gutters are leaking, check for any bends or breakages in these clips. If present, this can be easily fixed by replacing the clip – although you may be best trusting this job to a professional!