Properly installed gutters and downspouts direct water away from your home. When they’re working correctly, they can help prevent water damage, keep basements from flooding, and more. Directing water away from your home is the most important function a gutter system serves. With that in mind, here are a few more reasons why gutters and downspouts are important:

1. Longer Roof Lifespan

If gutters are clogged or not installed properly, rainwater can overflow your gutters and seep under your roof’s shingles. It can also damage your roof’s soffit and fascia, which will allow water to seep into your attic. Over time, this can weaken your roof, cause mold to grow, and cause further damage to both the exterior and interior of your home.

By ensuring your gutters and downspouts are properly installed and free of debris, you’re also making sure that they are protecting your roof and giving it a longer lifespan. Plus, proper drainage helps prevent ice dams and other winter roofing problems.

2. Protect Your Home’s Foundation

Water in your gutters flows into the downspouts, which then direct it away from your home. If they are clear of clogs and are properly installed, they will protect your home’s foundation from water damage.

Clogs or poor installation can cause water to pool at the bottom of the downspout and keep it close to your home. Over time, this can erode your soil, flood your basement, and cause cracks to start forming in your home’s foundation.

3. Protect Your Home’s Siding

Water damage is pervasive, which is why it’s so important to make sure your gutters and downspouts are doing their jobs. If they aren’t, you could be looking at damage to your siding in addition to your roof and foundation, especially if your siding is a wood-based or stone-based product. Overflowing gutters and broken downspouts cause water to flow down your siding and it causes damage over time. It can weaken your siding, cause mold, result in cracks, and more.

You have a bit more protection with vinyl siding as it is impervious to rot, mold, and more and stands up against wind, rain, and snow. However, if water is constantly running down the side of the house every time it rains, it can get underneath the siding and cause damage, especially if there is roof damage too. A gutter system that is working well prevents a waterfall from forming on your siding and directs it away from your home for some extra protection against water damage.

Gutters and downspouts are important for protecting your home from extensive, and expensive, water damage. Proper installation is only half the battle in the war against water damage; it’s also important for your gutters and downspouts to be clean and clear of debris. Clogs cause water to back up and stop it from flowing away from your home.

Not replacing your gutters when needed or neglecting to keep them clear are some ways you could be encouraging mold growth in your home in addition to causing damage to your home. If you need new gutters or are tired of cleaning out your current ones, contact Zephyr Thomas at 717-399-4708 to replace your gutters and to learn about gutter guards!