Maintaining a home isn’t always easy. In fact, most of the time as homeowners, we have to sort of roll with the punches as far as upkeep goes. Inevitably, there are always going to be some problems that arise. It’s just part of owning a house.
Thankfully, there are ways to ease our own workload in that sense. Depending on where you live, you’ve probably got gutters on your home. They’re a pretty important part of our roof systems, after all, and help make sure excess water has a place to go.
Here in British Columbia, they’re practically a necessity.
Still, they’re not the only line of defense that we have to prevent water damage from impacting our roofs (and the rest of our homes from there). Eavestroughs are another option. These days, many homeowners have both installed for the maximum protection possible. If that’s something that sounds appealing to you, do be sure to stick around!
What are Eavestroughs?
If you’ve ever gone through a home-cleaning or maintenance checklist (like this one), there’s a chance that you’ve heard this phrase before or you’re already familiar with them. Otherwise, though, they’re not exactly common knowledge for everyone. The first question most folks have here is whether they’re the same thing as gutters.
Based on what we’ve said so far, you’ve probably already gathered that they’re not. What’s the difference between them? An eavestrough is there to help collect rainwater and give it a runoff point so that there’s not a ton of water sitting on our roofs. Basically, the trough part is connected to the eave and hangs off it, which is where the name comes from.
They can be considered a part of a gutter system, but gutters are different in that they’re a general type of place for runoff rather than just being attached to eaves or even just being for water. They get clogged a lot more often, too, without diligent cleaning.
Thankfully, whatever you want to call them, most professional installation or cleaning companies will know what you’re talking about. Some will even specialize in eavestroughs, and you can call ahead for information about various service options.
Guardian Eavestrough Ltd.
604-744-8544
Really, don’t hesitate to contact a professional if you have questions about this sort of thing in general. Like we mentioned, it’s not exactly easy to keep up with all the maintenance and chores around the house, so any way we can reduce our own workload can be a real blessing..
Signs You Need Your Eavestroughs Cleaned or Replaced
Next on the docket, let’s consider some of the signs we should schedule a repair or maintenance service. As beautiful as it is here in British Columbia with all the trees and foliage, let’s face it: it can be a real pain as far as our gutters and eavestroughs go. Further details on that are here, https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1755-1315/542/1/012030/meta, but for the most part, we all know the problem: leaves.
It would be pretty silly to cut down all the trees in our yards just to prevent them from clogging, so that’s why most folks opt for alternative options. Typically, that means trying to clean them on our own or hiring a professional service to get it done. Depending on how serious the issue is, the atter might be necessary.
That said, it’s not a bad idea to at least try to clean them on your own. Just be careful and avoid any sections that would require you to climb up onto the roof. You could easily end up falling and injuring yourself if you aren’t experienced with doing so, and it’s better to be safe than sorry anyhow.
Sagging
Beyond just noticing that they’re clogged with detritus or leaves, if you notice your gutters or eavestroughs are sagging at any particular points, it can be a pretty bad sign. Typically, that won’t be a repair we can do on our own, so it may be time to call in a contractor like Guardian Eavestrough installation here in British Columbia.
Animals Are Inside
Squirrels, chipmunks, birds, you name it – all types of critters are keen to take up residence in your gutters or eavestroughs. While most insects or bugs won’t really be an issue, mammals or birds can cause some serious trouble if left to their own devices. Most professionals will be able to help safely relocate any wildlife that has made their home in your roof.
There’s Water Staining on the Walls of Your Home
Another surefire sign of a problem is if you start to see water staining on the walls. Since the purpose of these systems is to provide a way for water to safely run off of the roof and back into the ground, you ideally won’t be seeing evidence of staining. If you do, it means part of the runoff system isn’t working properly.
There are Pools of Water by the Foundation of Your House
As you can see on pages like this one, https://www.thehandymansdaughter.com/clean-outside-of-gutters/, there really shouldn’t be any standing water or puddles around your home foundation, especially not for extended periods of time. Again, this is another signal that you should get your eavestroughs or gutters inspected.
Should We Hire a Roofing / Eavestrough Expert?
Often, we are tempted to try to handle these sorts of problems without any external assistance. However, when it comes to replacing a gutter system or even repairing it, it tends to fall outside of our area of expertise unless we are professionally trained. There’s a chance that our attempts to fix it could make things worse.
So, that’s why most would recommend hiring a contractor or expert in the field to help out. While it does cost money to do so, you’re saving yourself a pretty massive headache in the meantime. There are plenty of experts available locally, so it’s not like we’ll have to search far and wide for one – just check on some reviews before you make your choice.
