Your Clogged Eavestroughs May Cause Basement Problems

How can clogged eavestroughs affect your basement?

When gutters are full, water is not able to flow freely into the downspouts and away from your home. Water pools near the home’s foundation and is absorbed into the soil.

This excess water can result in significant basement problems:

-         Water leaking into the basement.

-         The Sump pump running more than it should, reducing its life expectancy.

-         The heavy, saturated soil creates tremendous pressure on the foundation, which can cause bowing or buckling walls.

It’s important to clean your home’s eavestroughs in the fall and again in the spring. Remember to also:

-         Inspect the seals connecting at the joints to ensure they are not leaking.

-         Check that water is freely exiting from all downspouts. Downspouts should, at a minimum, direct water 3 to 4 feet away from your home’s foundation.

-         Examine the grading around the foundation. There needs to be a minimum of 5 degrees of slope from where the ground meets your home’s foundation to six feet away from the foundation, where the ground should be at least 3 inches lower.

A little proactive home maintenance can save you a lot of time, hassle and money in the future!