Why Do My Gutters Overflow In Heavy Rain?

Rain gutters and downspouts are responsible for collecting and moving rainwater away from a home’s foundation. There are several reasons why gutters may overflow, and they are detailed below.

Reasons Why Gutters Overflow In Heavy Rain

Here are the most common reasons why gutters will overflow when facing heavy downfalls.

1. Excessive Rainfall

While gutters are specifically designed to handle rain, frequent heavy downpours can still cause overflows. This can result in sagging or breaking, making the installation of new gutters a necessity. If you live in an excessively rainy climate, common vinyl or aluminum gutters may not be sufficient.

In this case, homeowners should consider upgrading to galvanized steel gutters designed to handle extreme rainfall. Galvanized steel gutters do require professional installation.

2. Gutters Are Undersized

It’s no secret that small gutters may not be able to handle excess rainfall. If you suspect this to be the issue, contact gutter professionals in your area for an assessment.

5-inch gutters are the most common size, ideal for moderately sized homes in areas that don’t receive much rain. Larger homes in areas with a decent amount of rain should opt for bigger gutters, overall.

3. Clogged Gutters

Rainstorms can bring along lots of debris like branches and leaves. This debris can unfortunately clog your downspouts and gutters. When debris is filling the gutters, there is nowhere for the rainwater to go.

The only option at this point is to overflow. Clog-resistant gutters can be installed to avoid this potential issue. This installation can either be done as a DIY task or handled by the professionals.

4. Incorrectly Positioned Gutters

When installed, gutters will be placed at specific angles. This is done to help direct waterflow away from your home. If the gutters keep overflowing but are not clogged, they could be improperly positioned.

If you believe this is your specific issue, it’s best to contact the gutter professionals in your area. They will be able to confirm whether or not you have an improper gutter slope.

5. Too Few Gutters And Downspouts

Gutters that fail to line the roof on all sides parallel to the ground, are known to overflow. This is also the case with downspouts. A lack of downspouts can lead to overflow because there are not enough of them to handle the waterflow.

One downspout is required for every 25-35 linear feet of gutter in an effort to prevent overflow. Thankfully, homeowners have the ability to simply add more downspouts, if needed.

What To Do When Gutters Overflow

Cleaning your gutters before heavy rainfall is the best way to prevent overflows and clogs, alike. To clean the gutters, homeowners can either remove any debris by hand or make use of a power washer.

Gutter guards can also be installed, but some homeowners may find this costly. Scheduling a gutter inspection is the best way to prevent any damage to your gutters, roof, or home.

JLC Enterprises Offers Rain Gutter Installation In Phoenix, Arizona

If you are looking for Rain Gutter Installation services in Arizona, look no further than JLC Enterprises Inc. JLC offers Rain Gutter Installations to the entire Phoenix, Arizona Valley, including, Phoenix, Gilbert, Glendale and more. Call us today at 480-967-9183 for more information.