Guttering is one of the most important parts of a home's water management systems. However, with it often being above the eye line and out of view, it can be easy to forget to inspect it regularly. According to the New South Wales state authorities, any guttering that was installed onto your home within the last six years can be inspected by the company that fitted it free of charge. If any of the installation work is found to be defective, they must fix it for you under Australian law. Even if your guttering is older than this, then it is something you should consider checking at least every few years. This is because faulty guttering that is not functioning correctly can lead to costly repairs down the line.

Correctly Installed Guttering

Guttering systems are designed to capture rainfall that lands on a building's roof and to transport it to an area of drainage. Guttering is attached to the building, just under the roof line next to the soffits and water flows into it. When installed properly, the guttering should extend all the way along the length of a wall, from one side to the other, capturing any rainfall from that part of the roof. The guttering should be gently inclined to that rainwater is able to flow down it towards a downpipe. Each section of guttering must be connected to the next with a snap fixing that is secure and which does not leak. When the water runs into the downpipe, this should direct it away from the property to soak away drain and not cause a puddle. Guttering should be free from debris that might prevent water run-off. This include broken tiles, foliage, birds' nests and moss. Gaining access to your gutters with a ladder or scaffolding, in hard to reach areas, is usually all that is needed to remove any unwanted blockages by hand.

Problems of Poorly Functioning Guttering

If rainwater does not flow off the roof to the designated drainage area properly, unwanted issues can arise in your home. Structural damage to your home is probably the most severe of these, but water running down your home's walls is also likely to cause rising damp. When walls are exposed to too much rainwater, moisture will build up above the damp proof course and this can lead to your walls feel cold and wet. In some cases, faulty guttering will also result in problems of mould spores which can have health implications, particularly for people with respiratory conditions. Unmaintained guttering might mean you have to make an insurance claim and some insurers will only pay out if you are able to demonstrate that regular inspections of your gutters have been conducted, depending on the policy. Therefore, keeping your guttering working well is highly beneficial to all homeowners.