Winter is nearly here and it’s time to make sure your home is prepared. By now you’ve likely checked your furnace and felt any drafts coming through your doors and windows, but did you know that you should be checking your eavestroughs and downspouts too?
Eavestroughs and downspouts are designed specifically for directing water away from your home’s foundation. It’s important to ensure that they are firmly attached and that water is draining properly before the frost hits. If not, water damage could create costly repairs.
A blocked eavestrough could cause water to overflow and pool around the base of your home. This increases the risks of flooding into your basement, foundation cracks, and other damage. The reason this happens is because when temperatures drop below freezing, water expands and turns into ice. If this water is trapped inside the eavestroughs or downspouts, that expansion can cause them to crack.
To prevent this, it’s a good idea to do a thorough inspection of your gutter system before the snow hits. Look for things like loose or detached areas, cracks in the caulking, or other damage. Make sure to check the elbows too. A weak connection could cause the entire system to collapse if there is enough pressure from heavy ice build-up.
If your inspection reveals that your eavestroughs are damaged, cracked, or simply failing, don’t wait until winter is underway to address it. Even small leaks could become a big problem. One possible solution to this is installing the Alu-Rex system, which features winter shield technology that keeps your eavestroughs clear by allowing the snow to melt on top, leaving room for water to drain properly.
If your eavestroughs need to be repaired or replaced, Tamar can help. We carry everything you need to, and our experienced staff will help you find the right solution for your home, so even if you’re not quite sure what you need, you can visit our showroom and receive expert advice.