Has your head been in the gutter lately? A properly installed gutter and downspout system performs a seemingly simple task, collecting water that drains off the roof and directing it away from the home. Quite often, homeowners pay little to no attention to their gutters and downspouts, and the system in turn performs poorly or even fails. Lack of maintenance allows for clogs, leaks, and potentially damage to your home. These issues are more extensive and costly to repair then to prevent with a little maintenance.

Gutters and downspouts are an important part of any roof drainage system, used to control rainwater runoff. Gutters and downspouts protect a structure from serious damage, as moisture in the roof, walls and foundation of a building can lead to many problems, including mold and mildew issues. The gutter is the horizontal component designed to collect and channel rainwater away from the roof, directing it to the downspouts. The downspout is the vertical pipe used for carrying the collected rainwater away from the structure. The outlet of the downspout can terminate above or below ground. In above ground terminations, splash blocks are often used to direct rainwater away from the foundation of the building. Many buildings and sites utilize a network of underground piping which connects the downspouts to a city or municipal underground storm system.