One of the most common causes of basement flooding is clogged gutters. Improper drainage or gutters that can’t do what they are supposed to allow water to find a way to places it shouldn’t be.
In this guide, we will talk about how gutters might be causing the water in your basement and whether or not gutter replacement might be necessary.
What is a Gutter?
Gutters are drain tubes that are made of different materials such as steel, vinyl, copper, and zinc. Vinyl is one of the most common materials. The drain system runs alongside your roof, connecting to downspouts. Gutters catch the water that runs off the roof during rain. The channels then direct the water away from the home through the downspout.
What is a Downspout?
While the gutters are responsible for catching the water and draining it to the downspouts, these spouts are responsible for directing water away from your home and basement. Gutters run horizontally and the downspout runs vertically. The end of the spout should be directed in some way to move water safely away from your home.
Three Ways Clogged Gutters Can Flood Your Basement
When gutters can’t do their job, water ends up in the basement. Here are three ways that can happen:
1. Clogged Overflows
A clogged gutter will cause water to overflow out instead of flowing through the gutter like it should. Debris, such as leaves and dirt, clogs up your gutters so the water can’t flow through them; it overflows instead. This can often be fixed with a gutter guard or regular gutter cleaning.
2. Gutter Maintenance
When gutters age, they can fall into disrepair. Inspecting and maintaining your gutters is essential. Over time, if the screws come loose, the gutters will begin to sag and might also have cracks in the system.
When you have sagging gutters, they can sometimes be fixed; however, there are times gutter replacement may be required.
3. Trenched Foundation
The gutter system is there for a reason: to prevent your home and basement from gathering water. When something fails with the gutters, the water falls directly to the foundation around your home. Eventually, it can create a trench that causes water to wind up in the basement.
Signs You Need Gutter Replacement
You don’t have to allow water to get into the basement. When you notice the small signs, you can take action to get things corrected. Gutter replacement is often the best solution to avoiding water in the basement.
These are the top signs that you might need your gutters replaced:
- Cracks or splits in gutters and downspouts
- Signs of rust or peeling paint on and around gutters
- Pools of water around the foundation of your home
- Signs of mildew around your home’s foundation
- Obvious water markings and water damage near the gutters
- Sagging or pulling gutters
Drycrete Can Help Keep Your Basement Dry with Gutter Replacement
Your basement deserves to be dry, and gutter replacement might be the solution. Drycrete Waterproofing has been serving the industry for more than 30 years. Contact us today to help you come up with the best solution.