There are many eavestrough problems solved with gutter guards. Let’s take a closer look at those eavestrough problems, the purpose of gutters themselves, and the bigger problems they can cause if you don’t resolve those problems.
Then we’ll discuss seamless gutter systems with leaf guards as a solution.
Are you ready?
What are Eavestroughs and what do they do?
First, let’s break the word apart. Eaves is the part of the roof that extends past the side of your house. It allows water to drip down away from the walls to prevent damage.
A trough is a channel that collects water. So an eavestrough is a channel attached to a fascia board on the edge of the roof’s eave to collect water.
What’s the difference between an eavestrough and a gutter?
Gutter is a more generic term for collecting water runoff. Think about street gutters collecting water from the road and draining it to the sewer. The term “gutter” is more of an American term while the term “eavestrough” is used more frequently in Canada.
Why are eavestroughs (or gutters) important?
Even though the eave part of your roof hangs out further than the wall, water won’t always fall straight down. It’s a long way down from your roof to the ground. Besides, all that water pooling around your foundation spells trouble.
An eavestrough provides control of the water coming off the roof by collecting it around the perimeter of your home and away from the walls. Then it allows water flow directing it to downspouts ensuring water moves far enough away from your home’s foundation. All of this prevents water damage.
So what’s the problem?
Common Eavestrough Problems
When an eavestrough system isn’t working properly, it can’t do the job it should. Some common eavestrough problems that prevent gutters from serving their purpose include:
- clogged gutters and blocked downspouts
- cracks and holes in the trough
- loose or damaged fasteners
- joint separation
- improper design for drainage
It is critical to have your drainage system inspected to ensure it works properly and is in good condition.
What causes these problems?
The most common issue preventing water from flowing through gutters properly is clogging. Blocked gutters can’t drain the water collected properly. The following culprits often cause clogs:
- Snow and ice
- Pine needles and leaves
- Gravel and shingles dust
- Large item debris
- Insects and small animals/nests
Proper gutter cleaning, maintenance, and good design are important to prevent clogging.
What happens if you don’t resolve eavestrough problems?
Damaged eavestroughs don’t just look nasty, they present a significant risk to your home. When water gets where it’s not supposed to be, bigger problems are not far behind. These include:
- Rotting soffit and fascia
- Damaged roof
- Basement leaks and flooding
- Mold and mildew
- Damaged foundation
- Landscape erosion
- Damaged driveway
- Insects and pests
Many eavestrough problems solved with gutter guards
The solution to many eavestrough problems is a highly optimized design and proper maintenance. But how can you reduce the time and money spent on maintaining your eavestrough system?
The answer is simple. By having gutter guards installed. They will allow the water to collect in the eavestrough sections and effectively allow it to drain out to the downspouts while keeping debris from clogging up the eavestrough and downspout sections.
Also known as leaf guards, gutter guards are attached to the top of the eavestrough sections as well as to the fascia board with aluminum screws. Aluminum leaf guard installation will also protect the entire eavestrough system by keeping the eavestrough sections tight to the fascia board. This reinforces the gutter sections in conjunction with the heavy-duty gutter brackets used during and eavestrough installation, thus preventing the leaf guards from loosening in high winds and in stormy weather.
Benefits of Leaf Guards
Less Cleaning
By keeping leaves, branches, pine needles, and shingle dust from accumulating inside the troughs, you spend less time cleaning or less money hiring someone to do it for you.
Prevent Nests and Infestations
Leaf guards not only keep out leaves and other organic debris, but they also stop birds from nesting inside your eavestroughs. Bats, bugs, and other tiny critters are less likely to use your gutters as a breeding and feeding ground too.
Reduced Potential for Ice Build-Up
Having debris and leaf buildup collect inside of the eavestrough sections will cause ice buildup and icicles to form and can cause the eavestrough sections to be pulled down and away from the fascia board. This also contributes to the risk of corners separating which causes leakage. Installing aluminum gutter guards will greatly reduce the potential of this happening.
Longer Lifespan and Extended Warranty
Gutter protection from clogging also reduces the amount of standing water and soggy debris in your gutters. Leaf guards provide a low maintenance benefit and an enhanced ability for the eavestrough system to function properly and allow it to remain in great shape for a much longer period of time, which allows us to extend the warranty of a new eavestrough system from 10 to 25 years.
But wait – I’ve heard gutter guards cause problems, not solve them
Leaf guards are not magic. There is no such thing as maintenance-free eavestroughs. But they reduce the time and effort it takes to clean and maintain them.
It also depends on the style of leaf guard you have installed. There are many types of gutter guards so it is important to work with a professional who can assess your home, and the type of trees and other risks around your home. They will discuss the pros and cons and make recommendations that will provide the best solution for you.
In conclusion…
There are many eavestrough problems solved with gutter guards. Well-designed and maintained eavestrough systems will collect and divert water away from your home to prevent bigger problems.
Leaf guards, when installed and maintained properly, will help reduce the effort required to maintain the eavestroughs and increase the lifespan of your system and its warranty.
After a free inspection of your current system. Only Eavestroughs will provide expert advice and a free estimate of what is recommended for your home.
Reach out to Only Eavestroughs today.
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