Gutters are small yeah sure whatever but oh boy the problems that start with them can get very big very fast.
Because a clogged gutter sends roof runoff where it shouldn’t go and then that water finds the foundation the yard, the buried pipes and your plumbing pays the price. What a bummer right?
And let me tell you if you own a Hamptons home and especially the one you don’t check every day then this problem has you marked on its next hit list.
Because overflowing gutters put extra water near the foundation and that leads to saturated soil, shifting ground, overwhelmed perimeter drains and sump pumps that run until they die.
And over time the house settles down, the pipes move, the joints start cracking and you end up calling a plumber for damage that began up on the eaves.
So to prevent gutter water leaks we are going to go through red signs for backed up gutter problems their real causes and what to do when it comes to DIY and pro options.
Here’s The Short Version On Clogged Gutters Water Damage
Ok so these drain channels are designed in a way where all that roof water goes down the drain and out into the main sewers but what happens when they all get clogged up with all sorts of mess.
Well first is that all the water spills over the sides and then that water soaks into the rich soil around your foundation where perimeter drains and sump pumps suddenly face even more water than they can handle which is seriously bad.
And after that the buried sewer or septic lines can get saturated and shifted by erosion and all of this leads to gutters and plumbing issues that you never even have imagined in your worst nightmares.
But you won’t have to experience that suffering because Paradise Plumbing offers homeowners a grand list of services to prevent gutter water leaks from gutter maintenance for plumbing to gutter backup solutions that will make all your problems vanish like thin air.
How Much Water Are We Talking About? Spoilers: It’s More Than You Think
So one inch of rain drop on a 1,000 square foot roof equals roughly 600 gallons of water.
And with all the clogged gutters that whole volume cascades at the foundation instead of being redirected to the palace it’s meant to go.
And if that happens then the soil soaks up that volume and pushes back on your foundation walls. Perimeter drains get overworked. The sump pump runs constantly and eventually things just fail miserably.
So this is exactly how clogged gutters water damage becomes a plumbing repair bill.
And experts who study home drainage and flood prevention have a lot to say about it in this PDF between roof runoff and foundation or sewer strain. So be sure to check it out if you are interested.
Real Signs You Have A Problem So Don’t Wait
Always Look For These Early Like:
- Gutters are overflowing during even a moderate rain.
- Downspouts that drip or no longer move water away.
- Wet dark soil at the foundation after rain.
- That sump pump is running constantly even during heavy storms.
- The basement water drains very slowly or sewage smells a lot after heavy rainfall.
If any of these show up then treat gutters as the root cause and call someone to inspect both gutters and the plumbing systems that are under heavy stress.
A Homeowner’s Nightmare
A client in the Hamptons ignored their backed up gutters plumbing problems for two seasons in a row. And after one heavy fall storm the water spilled over, pooled around the foundation and the sump pump ran nonstop until it burned out.
The basement flooded and all the main drains backed up and the biggest issue of all the repair bills ran into five figures.
The lesson to learn here is that they could have prevented gutter water leaks, plumbing damage from gutters if they were not too lazy about it but now the damage was far bigger than their bank account.
Too bad because that is a really bad headache to sort out.
What Do The Pros And Home Experts Say About This?
Seasonal home plumbing and gutter cleaning is not optional and so many industry trusted sources recommend a cleaning process at least twice a year when it comes to spring and fall and checking everything again after big storms.
They also want you to do a proper downspout placement and extensions so that roof runoff lands well away from the foundation.
So with these simple steps you can reduce basement flooding and foundation issues that lead to all kinds of disastrous plumbing failures.
And if you want the best pros out there then come on and Book a Gutter Inspection at Paradise Plumbing today and let’s get those problems sorted right away before a big disaster hits.
Where Do Clogged Gutters Actually Hit Your Plumbing Systems?
- Sump Pump Overload: Constant run time shortens pump life and can lead to failure when you need it most.
- Perimeter Drain Overload: Those drains weren’t sized for roof runoff because they can fill up really quickly and then let the water reach the foundation and the basement drains.
- Soil Erosion and Pipe Movement: Eroded soil can expose or shift buried sewer lines. Roots take advantage, and joints separate.
- Basement Moisture, Mold and Corroded Fittings: Long term dampness eats at pipe hangers, electrical systems and finishes.
So make sure to keep an eye on these vital points because if you fix gutters then you remove the first domino.
And if you ignore them then your plumbing is gonna take a big wide chunk out of your bank account.
What You Can Do This Weekend: No Ladder Gymnastics If You Don’t Want To
- Look First and watch out for a storm and see if the water tries to spill over.
- Clear Obvious Debris from gutter tops if you can do so safely otherwise use gloves. And don’t climb unless you know what you’re doing.
- Check Downspouts and make sure to run a hose into the gutter and watch the flow. If the downspout clogs then a plumber or gutter tech can snake it out.
- Add a Downspout Extension that pushes the discharge 5 to 10 feet from the foundation and that is often the cheapest fix.
- Test the Sump Pump by pouring a bucket of water into the pit and it should kick on and pump out quickly.
If you own a multi story Hamptons home or you are away much of the season then get pros at Paradise Plumbing to inspect because they can catch slope issues and hidden downspout clogs you’d miss.
DIY vs Professional: When To Call Paradise Plumbing
DIY works for small cleanings and visual checks. So make sure to call a pro when:
- You can’t safely access gutters.
- Downspouts back up or run slowly.
- You see standing water at the foundation.
- The sump pump runs constantly during moderate rain.
- You are a part time owner and can’t monitor problems.
The reason why is that pros do a full system check and with Paradise Plumbing services everything will be easy peasy japaneasy.
The Fixes That Actually Stop Plumbing Damage
- Clean gutters at least twice a year when it is fall and spring and if you don’t know how then see this grand piece from the old House on How To Keep Gutters Running Freely.
- Make sure to install downspout extensions as they can move water easily with no problems away from the foundation.
- If you have the means then use gutter guards in heavy tree areas to reduce debris.
- Check and test your sump pump before storm season.
- And finally if you have a history of basement problems then get Paradise Plumbing’s perimeter drain inspection and sewer camera check.
And if you want to know more then check out Paradise’s sewer Inspection Guide as that explains how plumbers find buried problems before they go off the roof.
Conclusion: Small Maintenance Big Payoffs
Gutter problems start small and I know they look innocent but once water starts working against your foundation and your drains then the next phone call you make will be to a plumber and it will be very expensive.
So please always clean the gutters. Extend the downspouts. Test the pump. And if you can’t do it yourself then Schedule a Call to get things started.
And I say this because it is way cheaper than replacing pipes, drying out a basement and replacing ruined finishes.
So come on don’t wait for the next storm to find out.
