Every property should have guttering, and while the majority do, it’s not always in good condition. It might seem like an incidental thing, but guttering has a crucial role in keeping your property safe from water damage.

Let’s tackle blocked guttering first, as this can easily lead to an overflow of water when it rains. Leaves and other debris can soon clog up your gutters, so getting them cleared regularly is a smart idea. You want to make sure the rain can flow along the gutters and down the drainpipes to the drains when it rains. If they’re blocked and this can’t happen, you could end up with water damage to your walls and other parts of your home. The gutters overflow and water can get into all kinds of nooks and crannies.

The longer they’re ignored, the heavier any debris can get, and this can lead to damaged guttering too. Cleaning it is always cheaper than replacing it, which is why you should get a regular cleaning schedule in place. It might surprise you to learn you only need to clean your gutters annually, unless you happen to live somewhere where the debris builds up faster. Wait for the autumn leaf drop to happen first, otherwise they’ll be blocked again in no time!

Keep an eye on your downpipes too

If one of these becomes blocked by debris flowing through from your gutters, water can back up behind it. This too can cause problems, and getting the blockage cleared should be a priority. Watch the drainpipes whenever it rains, so you can see whether the water is flowing out easily or not.

Are your gutters loose, dripping or sagging?

Watch out for any problems such as these. The sooner you spot something, the faster you can get it fixed. If you ignore a problem because it’s only minor, you can bet it will turn into something more serious over time. If water from your roof isn’t being channelled away efficiently, you could start getting damp inside your property as well as water damage.

Checking on your gutters is easy if you live in a single-storey property. However, if you live in a house and can’t check them, make sure you get someone in to investigate anything that might be wrong. You can perform a visual check from ground level and if you spot anything unusual, don’t hesitate to get it checked. You’ll have to pay a fee to have this done, but it will be far smaller than the cost of fixing major structural problems or damp issues that could be caused by poor-quality guttering.

Guttering can last for years if it is in good condition and has been put up properly. However, if it’s time to get yours replaced, do so as soon as possible. If you don’t, you could be storing up expensive problems for the future and major upheaval you could do without having at any time of the year.