Just Bought a House? 6 Gutter and Drain Checks to Make This October

Just Bought a House? 6 Gutter and Drain Checks to Make This October

If you closed on a home this year, congratulations. Now here's the part nobody mentions at the closing table: you have no idea when those gutters were last cleaned, whether the downspouts drain anywhere useful, or what's buried in the yard. A home inspection covers a lot of ground, but it doesn't tell you much about the gutter system, and your first Ohio winter is a rough way to find out.

Here are six things to check before the leaves finish falling.

1. FIND OUT WHERE THE WATER GOES

Follow every downspout to its end. Does it dump onto a splash block, run into an extension, or disappear into the ground? If it goes underground, you need to know where that line comes out. Many homeowners never learn this until something backs up.

2. LOOK UP AT THE GUTTER LINE

From the driveway, sight down each run. You're looking for sagging sections, gaps where the gutter has pulled away from the house, and any spot where the line dips. These tell you the system has been carrying weight it shouldn't.

3. CHECK THE FASCIA AND TRIM

The fascia is the board the gutters attach to. Dark streaks, peeling paint, or wood that looks swollen or soft means water has been overflowing there for a while. Rotted fascia won't hold a gutter through an ice storm.

4. WATCH IT RAIN

The cheapest diagnostic there is. During the next steady rain, step outside and look. Water should run to the downspouts and out the bottom, not over the sides, not through the seams, and not down the siding.

5. WALK THE FOUNDATION AFTERWARD

A day after a good rain, check the ground along the base of the house. Standing water, soggy mulch beds, or soil pulling away from the foundation all mean water isn't getting carried far enough away.

6. CHECK THE TREES OVER YOUR ROOF

Take note of what's hanging over the house. Big oaks and maples close to the roofline mean you'll be cleaning more often than a neighbor with an open lot, and it's worth knowing that before winter rather than after.

START WITH A BASELINE

The simplest move for a new homeowner is to get one thorough cleaning and inspection now, so you know exactly what you've got. We clear the roof valleys and gutters, test every downspout, flush the drain lines, and give you a straight rundown of the system's condition, including anything that needs repair. After that, you know your house.

AllDone Gutters and Drains is a family-owned, licensed and insured company serving Columbus, Dublin, Westerville, Hilliard, and Grove City. Call 614-701-6567.

Done right, done once, All Done.