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As a coastal city, Seattle is known for its moderate, Mediterranean climate with dryer summers and cooler, wet winters with just under half of the year on average seeing regular amounts of daily rainfall, that is up to 37 inches per year, peaking in autumn and winter. Rain in moderate amounts does wonders for growing our crops and recoloring our parched surrounding greenery and landscapes in Seattle but in excess amounts can be overkill as it can cause overflowing rivers and runoffs, pooling, and flooding. And the aftermath of a rainstorm ranges from power outages to supply shortages, traffic obstructions, and road and permanent infrastructure damage including to your humble abode. Although Seattle is typecast as one of the rainiest states in the US, it’s not all that stormy and drizzled out so long as you remain extra vigilant and prepare for the rainy season by first and foremost check the condition of your roof. Seattle homeowners may not face a flash flood anytime soon but it’s best to conduct routine maintenance and double-check all facets of your gutter system including your downspout outlet to ensure it’s intact and working properly to expel excess water to the outskirts of your home. If you need a downspout installation, Seattle, WA homeowners are best advised to ask a professional Seattle gutter technician for help.
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Being complacent is ill-advised as Seattle property owners who do so will find the extra water puddles around their home result in runoff water which depletes the topsoil and causes erosion and the worst case scenario of a damaged home foundation. Aside from this, you’ll start to notice cracks or damp patches on your ceilings and wall boards as the excessive moisture slowly seeps in. Eventually, this will lead to mold and mildew growth and cause your home’s wooden structures to rot away compromising not only the structural integrity of your home but your health. You can avoid this swamp situation and costly water damage with a Seattle downspout installation from your certified, licensed, and fully insured Seattle technician from Pacific Gutter Company who is here to protect your home from the wrath of severe thunderstorms. Oftentimes replacing gutter components such as the downspouts, gutter guards or hangers is more practical than doing minor and tedious repairs as tweaking the nuts and bolts to the components don’t guarantee the same problem may not pop up again. If you’ve been contemplating a downspout installation, Seattle, WA residents can rely on a team of experienced team members for gutter downspout repairs, installations, and maintenance services. Our professional technicians are well-equipped with the knowledge, techniques, and skillet for all things gutter. One area of expertise is our innovative Gutter Shutter system which is a surefire way to readily prevent any clogs from emerging. For those that tend to dawdle on maintaining their gutters and find cleaning a boring chore, we recommend this upgrade as you don’t have to deal with the hassle of scrubbing out your gutters ever again alongside shielding your home from water damage.
Seattle homeowners who are indifferent about installing rain gutters besides asking for repairs and replacements for a downspout installation, Seattle, WA residents should know they are in for a rude awakening. Although gutters are not regulated by the State for adhering to the bare minimum building code it doesn’t rule out the fact a gutter system is to your benefit. Going commando and braving the Seattle local weather is not advised and is a risk you should not be willing to take.
A standard gutter system includes troughs, downspouts, gutter guards, hangars, and other components which work together to collect rainwater from your roof and dispel it away from your home. As your home’s exterior rainwater disposal system your gutters are responsible for catching and redirecting the water flow through the troughs and out into the downspout outlet only to discard it a safe distance to a designated spot well away from the outskirts of your property. If your downspout is broken due to a nasty clog your troughs will easily overflow as the water topple outs and flood your basement. One of the components, a downspout, directs water from the roofline and forces it away via a splash block or extra extension which leads into the cul de sac or street. If your gutter’s missing a downspout installation, Seattle, WA homeowners can expect their property to become a marshy peat as your soul erodes. If you outrightly ignore a gutter system let alone a Seattle downspout installation your home will no longer be safe and secure. Don’t let your home’s gutter fall into disrepair as you can be proactive and avoid a disastrous outcome with a downspout installation service from one of our expert gutter service technicians.
Typically, you require at the very minimum a semi-annual gutter cleaning in Spring and Fall to allow your water disposal system to be less susceptible to any clogs. Unfortunately, some people make haphazard assumptions and think the next Seattle downspout will somehow magically scrub their gutters clean of any leftover debris, when in fact, the opposite is true. Any precipitation be it rain, sleet, snow or hail only adds to the accumulating debris including dirt, leaves, twigs, stones, rodents, and more. And so, it’s a bad idea to treat gutter cleaning as optional rather than mandatory and allow our professional technician to do a thorough examination of your downspout outlet to see if it is plugged or has a loose seam due to a faulty bracket. If you notice water spewing from the sides of your troughs it could be a jammed downspout.
Before a Seattle downspout installation, we will clean and repair any damage to your gutter system. We always recommend giving your gutters a thorough cleanse before any installation process to avoid delays. If you’re looking to replace your old downspout with a new one we’ll have to get rid of any clogs. For minor clogs, we will manually scoop out any debris in and around the downspout and directly inside the hole as we drop handfuls into a bucket. We’ll use a slender pose to dislodge the clog and if that doesn’t work we’ll proceed to use a high-pressure hose to force out the blockage or at least soften it. We’ll blast away the pesky clog from the bottom up of the downspout. For major clogs, we’ll use a drum auger which has a claw end that is inserted into the downspout. As the metal end extends up the downspout and cinches the clog and turns the auger clockwise. The spiraling motions effectively dislodge the clog as it is slowly pulled out. If water and debris flush out it’s a good sign and indicates the clog has been loosened. As a last step, we will rotate the auger counterclockwise to completely remove the clog. Now we’ll rinse out the downspout area for a few minutes to prep it for a new downspout installation. Seattle, WA clients should be rest assured we always clean up before and after a service appointment.
As your home’s frontline defense, your gutters are constantly battered so don’t be too surprised to see random puddles underneath your troughs or water dribbling down your siding due to a clog. Unfortunately, if clogs are not dealt with it results in a leakage. Downspouts in particular can begin to leak due to damage from clogging and frost. Usually leaking is reserved for the seams especially if pressure is exerted in and around the seams. If this happens, the sealant around the seams can be rendered vulnerable and dislodged by water resulting in something known as weeping seams. There are numerous approaches to correcting a leaky downspout:
Refastening: Clips And Hangers
Troughs are securely attached to fascia boards using clips or hangers which tend to deteriorate over time due to general wear and tear. This results in your troughs loosening, sagging, and pulling away from your roofline – the same goes for around your downspout. By replacing any rusted or loose fasteners your troughs will be held set against the fascia boards.
Keep It Together: Waterproof Caulk
For small-sized holes, your technician will use plastic roofing cement or caulk. If the joints of your troughs are faulty, or the bridging connection between your troughs, they will begin to droop. Certain materials like aluminum are more prone to rust and will start to corrode and give way to tiny holes. Caulk serves as a glue that can temporarily seal up any small cracks, holes, or gaps. Your technician will use a putty knife to spread caulk over the hole in a thin layer.
Cover Up: Patch
For medium to large holes in your downspout, your technician will cut out a piece of flashing the size of the hole and glue together using roofing cement or caulk
Extra Protection Drip Edge
These are L-shaped metal pieces you can add to your troughs to stop water from dripping in between the lines and your fascia boards.
As part of your gutter system, the downspout is vertically placed from the horizontal troughs. And so, your troughs are in charge of holding your water and channeling it to the downspout which then pulses it away from you. There are certain aspects that your downspouts should adhere to including proper positioning, for example, whether you have a sloped backyard or not will determine the distance your downspout should extend. If sloped, it should extend at least 6 feet away, and if it’s not sloped and a relatively flat yard it should extend more than 6 feet away from your home. It’s also ideal to leave space between downspouts as they need to be placed at least 20 feet apart but no more than 50, with ideally a downspout for every 30 to 40 feet of gutter.
Regardless of if you are getting a brand-new downspout or replacing an old one, there are some things to take into consideration for a Seattle downspout installation. Seattle, WA homeowners are suggested to consider their options based on the different types of materials, components, and extra add-on features based on their gutter installation.
At Pacific Gutters, we use two types of systems for gutter installation including sectional gutters and seamless gutters. Sectional troughs are threaded together by individual pieces and are more susceptible to leaks at the seams, that is, at the spot where two troughs connect. Seamless troughs are exactly measured to your roofline’s dimensions and cover up hidden corners. If you’re concerned about downspout leakages we recommend going with seamless troughs. During our consultation appointment, we can customize a gutter solution that is most suitable based on your personal preferences, budget, and the durability of the material.
Nowadays there is a wide range to choose from for materials for downspout installation Seattle, WA you need only only ask. The general rule of thumb is the more studier the material the more expensive and it goes from copper which is the most versatile and pricey to plastic which has the lowest upfront costs but will easily crack under pressure.
Vinyl: This is the most featherweight plastic-based material and affordable but easily features in fluctuating temperatures and pressures and so is susceptible to leaks
Aluminum: Slightly sturdier than plastic nor does it rust but it can easily bend in different shapes if heavy pressure is applied.
Steel: This comes in galvanized steel and stainless steel but rusts more readily compared to other materials so regular cleaning is required.
Copper: The most expensive option but a worthwhile investment as it can handle heavier loads of pressure and temperature, doesn’t rust easily nor bend into wayward shapes. Plus it boosts your curb appeal.
During your downspout installation, Seattle, WA homeowners can also check out bonus add-ons that further bolster their gutter system. One protective mechanism for example is gutter guards. Although gutter guards are not foolproof so you’ll still need to perform proper upkeep with regular cleanings. But they do reduce the amount of effort you put towards scrubbing your gutters and encountering any nasty clogs in your downspout. There is a diverse palette of gutter guards to choose from:
Screens: These basic varieties are made from plastic or metal and slip under your shingles.
Micro Mesh: These have more fine sieve screens and stop even the smallest of debris like stones or pebbles from invading your troughs.
Brush: These are placed directly inside of your trough and stop larger debris like leaves and twigs from entering.
Foam: These are also placed directly inside troughs and although water can trickle through any debris is prevented in doing so
Reverse Curve: This sits at the top of the trough and thanks to its curved edge it sloughs off any debris whilst allowing any water to dribble through.
Pacific Gutter Company is the top-notch choice for a lot of Seattle homeowners as we always advocate for our clients by actively listening to their concerns and conjuring up an authentic and results-oriented solution. Our local technicians are well-adept to handle any gutter downspout installation, Seattle WA clients should know no matter the feat. Upon inspecting your roofline we will provide you with a customized package based on our transparent, upfront piercing alongside financing options and installment plans if you’re hoping to upgrade to gutter shutters. We always strive for quality craftsmanship and superior customer satisfaction.
Splash blocks–these are rectangular pieces of plastic or concrete you can place directly below downspouts which serve as catching mechanisms that divert water away from your home. These offer extra protection against soil erosion and moisture or water damage to your home’s foundation.
Generally, leave about 30 to 40 feet between each downspout which means you will be installing a downspout at either end of a gutter section.
The downspout must be securely attached to the side of the home so it doesn’t fall off. Ideally using ample amounts of high-quality caulk will create a strong seal between the gutter and downspout.
Yes for the most part – adding just an extra inch to your gutters makes your gutters easier to clean and maintain as the mouth at the top of the gutter is wide so it’s easier to clean and remove debris. As a result, less gunk accumulates in your troughs, and following suit your downspout is less likely to clog.
It depends – if you’re comfortable with cleaning your gutter during the winter you can hammer down any ice. But if not, you can always remove your downspout for the winter season so long as you replace it before the snow melts and Springtime arrives to allow water to circulate and prevent water infiltration. Either way, the weight of snow and ice can damage your downspout outlet so you are advised to take other measures like insulating your roof and attic or even investing in gutter guards.
You never signed up for a wetland excursion so ask one of our pro technicians from Pacific Gutter to keep your home safeguarded from any scathing rain with a gutter downspout repair, installation, or maintenance service request. Apart from Seattle we also help out in nearby areas of Clark, Grays Harbor, and Kitsap. Reach out to one of our friendly customer service representatives at 866-391-1888 who eagerly awaits your response.
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