The gutters are some of the most ignored components of a house. Most people only pay attention to these features when there is a problem. If you are among the group of people who ignore their gutters, you are making a mistake that may cost you a great deal of pain and money in the near future. This is because failing to care for your gutters properly will only result in major problems. All the same, for you to be able to care for your gutters properly, you must first understand the different components that make up the whole system.
When you climb up a ladder to the gutters, you will be amazed by the number of components that your eavestrough system has. Most people only know about the main eavestrough, which is the trough that catches the rainwater as well as the melted snow. There are several other parts that help the eavestrough to work seamlessly, from capturing the runoff water to directing the water away from your house.
This article takes a look at the different components you should be familiar with when caring for your eavestrough.
Troughs
As aforementioned, this is the major component of the eavestrough system. It is an actual trough that collects water, snow as well as other precipitations from the roof. The troughs keep water from falling on your foundation. The troughs collect the water allowing it to flow along the eavestrough system such that it is eventually directed away from the foundation of your house.
The troughs are usually attached beneath the eaves – this is the edge of the roof. They hang over the walls. When water is collected, the troughs direct it to the downspouts.
Downspouts
The downspout is the component that is affixed to the troughs. It stretches along the side of your exterior walls groundwards. The work of the downspout is to carry the water fetched by the troughs away from the perimeter of your home.
At the ground level, downspouts meet a concrete block or a well. This concrete block or well collects water from the downspouts and directs it away from the house. This prevents flooding at the foundation of your home. Without a downspout in place, all the water that is collected by the trough will accumulate at the foundation of your house and seep into your basement.
Hangers and brackets
Back to the troughs, you will find hangers and brackets. Hangers and brackets are the components that attach the eavestrough to the roof. By securing the troughs in place, hangers and brackets provide structural support that keeps the eavestrough system working seamlessly.
The hangers and brackets come in a wide range of materials, colours and designs. This means adding structural support to your eavestrough will not end up tarnishing aesthetics. You can simply select a component that matches both your eavestrough system and the exterior of your home.
Elbows
At the corners, it is the job of the elbows to help water flow smoothly where the troughs have turns. There are front elbows that direct water to the front and backward and side elbows which direct water from one side to the other.
Mitres
You will find these components at the junctions and corners of the eavestrough system. They help water to flow effectively. Your options when it comes to mitres include hand-mitred corners and prefabricated mitres. The hand-mitred corners are handmade to suit the system perfectly. Prefabricated mitres, on the other hand, come ready-made. Prefabricated mitres are prone to tearing and are noticeable than the hand-mitred corners.
Crimped caps
The job of these components is to keep water from escaping at the end of the troughs. Crimped caps are common in eavestrough systems that are more modern. Older systems used end caps.
Seamers
These are the components that join different sections of a trough. They are also known as ‘joining brackets’.
Understanding the various components of an eavestrough system will help you take better care of your eavestrough. However, if you need any of these components to be repaired, you should always call in a professional. A professional will ensure you use the right replacement/repair components and make sure everything is working as it should. At Trades by Jack, we are happy to help with new installations, repairs and maintenance. Feel free to visit website to find out more about our products and services.
