Why You Need Gutter Extensions

Every homeowner knows the importance of rain gutters, as they play a vital role in protecting your home from water damage. Many homeowners have even invested in downspouts to aid their rain gutters in function. However, many homeowners are unaware of the benefits of downspout extensions.

You need both downspouts and downspout extensions if you want to be sure that your home is protected. A correctly functioning drainage system is essential to preventing moisture and corrosion.

What are Downspouts?

You probably already know that rainwater collects on your roof and runs down into your gutters, and that the gutters collect the water and drain it away from your home’s foundation. Downspouts are the long pipes that are connected to gutters and are connected vertically to the sides of your home, leading the flowing water away from the foundation. Downspout extensions help downspouts redirect the water to a designated drainage location even further beyond the foundation of your home.

Downspouts can protect your basement from flooding as a result of heavy rain or melting snow and can also prevent rainwater from accumulating on your rooftop, which can lead to costly structural damage.

Why are Downspouts Important?

Having quality downspouts is as vital as having a well-maintained gutter system. If you live in a rainy climate, they can play a critical role in protecting your home. Downspout extensions allow rainwater to drain in a controlled manner instead of having water splashing everywhere at the base, a potential source of water damage.

Just as with rain gutters and downspouts, gutter extensions need to be properly maintained in order to ensure they’re in good working order. However, homeowners frequently overlook their downspouts, and that is how they can start to cause water-related structural damage to your home. It’s a good idea to check and clean your rain gutters once in the spring and once in the fall.

Downspout extensions must be properly installed for you to reap their benefits. When they are not properly positioned, they can do more harm than good, such as causing your gutters to overflow. The same thing can happen if you install downspout extensions too close to your house. Over time, water can gradually get into places it shouldn’t, causing landscape erosion, basement flooding, and even structural damage. If these problems are not fixed on time, water can get under your roofline and damage your entire roof.