National Property Inspections of Rochester, NY Blog

Q: What is the purpose of a gutter and how do I know if my gutters are working properly?

The purpose of guttering is to collect rainwater off a roof and send it away from the house. Inspecting the gutters is part of a National Property Inspections home inspection.

The first thing an NPI professional will check is the downspouts. The downspout sections must be solidly connected to each other and to the building to hold the heavy weight of the water running through them. The water flow at the bottom should be diverted away from the building. The NPI inspector will walk under the guttering to observe if any seams appear to be broken.

One of the biggest problems with guttering is the attachments to the house. The NPI professional will check for sagging gutters, loose gutter strapping or spikes, and clogged gutters. The inspector will note any concerns and recommend repairs.

Gutters, downspouts and splash blocks collect

rainwater from a roof and send it away from

the structure. Gutters are the valleys located

on the edge of the roof. The downspouts connect

to the gutters to carry the water to the ground.

Splash blocks are located at the end of the downspouts to divert

water away from the building.

Damaged or leaking gutters can cause water to stain walls, pool

against the foundation or seep into the walls, damaging the

structure. With fall just around the corner, your gutters are

susceptible to clogs from falling leaves. A few actions on your

part can help prevent these problems and route water away

from your home:

• Remove debris from gutters as often as needed to prevent dams

and overflow. Gutters may need to be cleaned twice a year or

weekly.
• Visually inspect gutters and downspouts for apparent damage

from tree limbs or storms.
• Check that all downspouts are directed away from the home’s

foundation and splash blocks are in place.
• Check fasteners on downspouts and gutters to insure proper

connections are in place.

A National Property Inspections property inspection includes

a thorough visual examination of the drainage system. Your

NPI inspector will note any problems and recommend any

needed repairs.