STL Home Owner Tips: Gutter Clog Blog

Do you have wet areas and dampness in your basement?  Do you want to avoid costly repairs and mold buildup? What about that musty smell?  A lot of people attribute this to a damp basement, and figure there’s not much that can be done.  While it’s true some basements are more prone to water entry than others, it’s also true a lot can be done to head off water before it settles in the basement.  This discussion is not limited to basement foundations.  Water getting under a slab, and softening up the substrate, can quite often be the cause of cracks and settling.

It can’t be emphasized enough just how important it is that your guttering system collects all of the rainwater runoff that hits your roof.  It must channel it efficiently to your downspouts, which then directs it well out into your yard and far away from your foundation.  Any homeowner with trees close to the house will get leaves and other debris in the gutters.  Due to common belief leaves and debris do not necessarily just blow away on its own.  Instead, they collect and clog up both your gutters and your downspouts.  This creates a problem because the water running off your roof can’t drain, and you end up with what looks like Niagara Falls coming off your gutters all around your house. No, this isn’t normal either and a warning sign for homeowners!

All this water is hitting and soaking into the ground right alongside your foundation where it will find every crack and seam, ultimately seeping into your basement.  If water seeps in chronically, and nothing is done to better manage the water runoff, it’s possible the result is rot, mold, and insect infestation problems over time.  In a worst-case scenario, the softening of the dirt from all the water around your foundation, or under the footings, can also lead to settling, cracks, and structural movement.


Needless to say, you can save yourself a lot of headaches and costly repair costs by simply keeping your gutters clean, installing gutter guards if necessary, keeping your drainage system in good repair, and directing the runoff as far away from your foundation as possible. Note, if you have gutter guards installed, you still need to check their effectiveness periodically.  Debris can build up above them, vines can get into your gutters past them, and they can collapse into the gutters at times, creating the blockages they were supposed to prevent.  Take a look at them every once in awhile, to make sure they’re still doing their job.

For more tips about home ownership or tips on buying a home, return weekly for helpful blog tips.  Mike Chambers, St. Louis’ Guide for better home maintenance and buyers and sellers in the St. Louis Real Estate market.


Michael Chambers – St. Louis Area Home Inspector
BrickKicker Home Inspections
Email: Michaelc@brickkicker.com
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