How A Long Drought Can Damage Gutters?

Whether you live in a dry climate or the area you live in experiences a dry season, this does not mean that you neglect the state of your storm water drainage system. It is common to think that if there is no rainfall, the gutters do not need maintenance, but this is not true at all. In fact, a long drought can be just as damaging to gutters as the coldest of winters.

How to avoid cracks in the gutters derived from a drought

The danger of a climate that is too dry or a prolonged drought for the gutters lies in two main reasons:

The first is constant exposure to direct sunlight; As you know, exposure to direct sunlight can devastate any material over time. If we add to this the dilation derived from the heat plus the extreme dryness of the environment, we have the ideal combination for breaks or cracks to occur in the gutters.

On the other hand, we must bear in mind that even if it does not rain in our gutters, dirt, dust and sand carried by the wind will continue to be deposited. Accumulated debris can eventually become wet with dew, fog, or light drizzle. These wet debris end up loading our gutter system with a constant weight, which can cause breakage.

But even further, derived from this problem we will finally obtain a cement-like paste deposited inside our gutters. If a heavy rain fell, it would be dislodged by the downspouts, but if the drought situation continues, these residues can lead to breakage of the joints, cracking or even corrosion of the gutters. These problems will cause leaks in the gutters that we may not detect until the rain arrives and it is already too late.

Keep in mind that a leaky drainage system can lead to soil erosion, wood rot, foundation and basement dampness, facade damage, mold growth, etc. Difficult and costly solutions problems that are certainly easy to prevent if we carry out correct maintenance of our gutters.

Rely on professionals for the maintenance and cleaning of gutters

For these reasons it is important that you check and clean your gutter system whatever the weather conditions. And of course it is recommended that you entrust this work to a company specialized in the installation and maintenance of gutters , only then will you have the guarantee that your water drainage system is in perfect condition and working optimally. Remember that if you allow too much time to spend on gutter maintenance it may be necessary to replace sections or even the entire system; although if your gutters are already in poor condition, it may be time to consider investing in copper gutters, much more durable than the usual ones and that will also add value to your property and a very elegant touch to your façade.