When the water management system (gutters) on your house get clogged up it’s not one thing that happens, it’s really a series of things. And each one gets worse than the one before. And more costly to fix. But before we get into all that, it may be better to discuss gutters in general first, especially in New Jersey.

What, exactly, are Gutters, anyway? Gutters are the second stage in your home’s water management system. Yes, your home has a water management system, whether you are aware of it or not.

Your Home’s Water Management System

Your house – and buildings in general, for that matter – uses a three-tiered water management system to prevent the accumulation of water in unwanted places in and around the structure itself. And the damage that that unwanted water will ultimately cause if left unmitigated.

Tier I – Prevent Unwanted Water From Entering The Structure

Also known as “keep the water out of the house”. This is the roof itself, the soffit and fascia combination beneath the roof and atop the structure’s walls, and the wrapping, or siding, that encases the walls. With varying degrees of effectiveness, of course, these work in concert to prevent uninvited water from entering the building.

Tier II – Capture and Move Water Off The Structure

This is accomplished by the building’s Gutters and their Leaders(also known as “downspouts”). Gutters are essentially channels that rest under the bottom or lowest parts of the roof. As water runs off the roof it collects in the Gutters and flows toward the ends of the channel, where it reaches a Leader. Leaders are essentially pipes set vertically, connecting the Gutter to the ground below. Gutters and Leaders work together to channel the water that was kept out of the house and direct it down, with the goal of moving it away from the structure itself, or into a buried drain system.

Tier III – Direct The Water Away From The Structure

This, the last stage of your home’s water management system,uses nature to accomplish its goal. But leaving it unattended to take care of itself can be a very costly error – especially when the error is entirely preventable with a little bit of care and attention.

Builders use the landscaping itself to accomplish the last step of water management – moving the uninvited water that’s been shed by the roof and siding, and captured by the Gutters and Leaders, away from the home and into the street where the local municipality’s water management system takes over. They accomplish this through a combination of grading the soil so that water will gently and naturally flow away from the building, and selecting the appropriate mix of rocks, soil, plantings and hardscape to keep the water moving once it reaches the ground.

What Can Go Wrong?

Very little, actually. But when it does go wrong, it goes wrong in a really big way if the issue is left unattended. Remember the three stages of your own water management system, and let’s consider the last one first.

Tier III Fail

Builders rely on grading and surface cover/material to keep the water moving where it is intended to go. This is a slow, usually invisible, process. However, if, after soil compaction or simply passing time, low spots develop, the water will collect. First as a “wet spot” or two on the lawn. If it continues and isn’t addressed, unsightly puddling will eventually appear and damage the grass or landscape beneath it. Any landscape service – and most homeowners – can fix this by moving the appropriate amount of soil around to recapture the intended flow.

Tier II Fail

Homeowners rely on the installed Gutters and Leaders around the roof to capture water and move it away from the structure. This combination is highly effective at doing its job when the components are all in good working order. If either part of the system is compromised, the bad effects will usually become visible in short order. Often, the first sign will be gutters that overflow during a rainstorm. Sometimes, a section of Gutter or Leader will become unmoored from the house and peel away, becoming immediately visible to the homeowner. A handyman service, a Gutter & Leader provider, or the homeowner themselves can usually reattach loosened components of the system.

Tier I Fail

A Tier I Fail implies that either missing or damaged parts of the roof or the siding have allowed the intrusion of water to the building. Tier I Fails are not always easily identified and worse, they can cause extensive damage to both the structure and its contents if left unattended. This is why a periodic inspection of the roof and the structure itself is an advisable part of any homeowner’s maintenance program.

Clogged Gutters – The Most Insidious Of All

Now, we’re back where we started this article and we are ready to finally find out what happens when your Gutters get clogged up.

First, what is it that actually clogs Gutters? Most frequently it’s the leaves, twigs, dirt and organic debris that is blown onto the roof and washed down into the Gutters that has been able to collect in the Gutter, preventing the water – and the debris – from moving to the Leaders. Sometimes nesting birds, animals or insects will accelerate or even cause the problem.

This Is What Happens

When the Gutters get clogged and the organic material clumps up, the first sign is sometimes the emergence of a plant shoot, or even a tree sapling, growing in the Gutter itself! Sometimes it’s a waterfall that appears from your Gutter during a rainstorm. Either of these may be embarrassing, but they are welcome because they are easily visible to the homeowner – meaning that the problem can be more easily identified and fixed.

Often, absent a big or noticeable rainstorm, clogged Gutters will not be obvious or even visible to the casual observer. Instead, they will slowly, inexorably, “leak” water back towards the house doing their slow damage. If the grading is inadequate, the uninvited water may seep into the soil next to the building’s foundation, slowly eroding or eating away at the foundation, weakening the entire structure. These can be much more damaging than a more visible event – like an entirely blown-off or overflowing Gutter.

The funny thing is, once clogged Gutters are identified, they are an easy and a relatively inexpensive fix. Especially when compared to the potential damages that clogged Gutters will eventually cause if left unattended. Many homeowners prefer to use a Gutter cleaning service rather than tackling the job themselves.

Prevention Is As Easy As Inspection

You may have noticed reading this article that seeing and identifying the problem is not always easy, especially from the ground, although it is essential to discover these issues as early as possible. Many homeowners find that even the basic ladder-work required to inspect is more than they prefer to undertake themselves. Fortunately, there are Gutter inspection and cleaning services that will perform the inspection for you.

Finding A Provider

If, like me, you are likely to leave the hard labor to your local professional, there are many providers to choose from. The approach I’ve used over the years for finding and selecting a provider may work for you, too.

I contact at least three providers of the service I am investigating to get proposals for the job. Consider their confidence and professionalism, evaluate their equipment and their website, and secure at least three recent customer names and numbers for referrals – then, make the calls – references are king! Price is, of course, important. But capability and experience is what will result in a successful job for you.

When you decide the time is right to proceed with your project, be sure to contact AllCleanExteriors at (732) 570-4923.