Downhill Into The Gutter

Rain gutters play an essential role in collecting roof runoff during a storm.

Downhill into the gutter.

Isolate areas when you run the hose. Debris flowing down the downspout drain leaves from gutters can block floor drains or even the main building sewer line leading to sewage backups into the structure. Runoff water and snowmelt falls into the gutter sections. Downspout extensions will help your downspouts direct water to a specific place away from your home s foundation.

This is done by design so that the runoff water can flow downhill towards the downspout. Gutter section gutter section also called simply a gutter this is the horizontal length of guttering usually between five and ten feet which attaches to the home. Debris flowing down a downspout drain that has been foolishly connected to the building foundation drain system can block that drain leading to basement flooding from either roof runoff or surface and subsurface runoff or both. Downspouts should be installed with a minimum of elbows because elbows are where clogs are most likely to happen.

For example soak the downhill side of a chimney first then each side then the top on both sides. If a leak is difficult to find enlist a helper and go up on the roof with a garden hose. If water backs up out of the downspout instead of easily draining remove the downspout s base this. Improperly sloped gutters are also prone to standing water and the water pressure could cause them to break under the weight.

Run water into the gutter at the top of the downspout and watch the drainage at the bottom. To drain properly a gutter should have a minimum slope of a inch for every 10 feet. A downspout is installed by fitting it over the drop outlet on the gutter and screwing downspout supports to the wall of the house.