How Do You Keep Gutters From Overflowing in Heavy Rain?

February 28, 2023

The purpose of rain gutters is to protect your home's foundation from the water that pools after a heavy rainstorm. It stands to reason that rain gutters should be able to withstand any storm. However, overflowing gutters is a common occurrence during heavy rain. If rain gutters are manufactured and mounted under your roof for precisely this purpose, why are they not fulfilling it? There are many reasons why this could happen, and an easy fix to all of them.

Why Do Gutters Overflow in Heavy Rain, and Is It Normal?

Ensuring that a gutter remains stable through heavy rains should be one of the main criteria dictating the installation process from its early stages. Yet, many people who install their own rain gutters may lack the expertise required to ensure that they actually fulfill their purpose.

Rain gutters should withstand a constant onslaught of water falling without allowing it to overflow and damage a home's foundation. So, no, gutters overflowing in heavy rain are definitely not normal. And besides a faulty DIY installation, these are the top three causes of overflowing gutters:

1. Incorrect Slope
   This might be the trickiest part of a proper gutter installation. Failing to do it correctly is one of the most common causes of gutters overflowing in heavy rain. Too steep a slope will cause water to flow too fast and overflow at the top or bottom of the downspout. If the slope is not steep enough, the water will pool and spill over the edges of your gutter. A gutter not draining will slowly pull away from the house and eventually collapse. A gutter's slope has to be just right, and that's no more than a ¼-inch drop in the direction of the downspout.


2. Clogged Gutters
   If your gutter's slope is just right, then the reason why it is overflowing in heavy rain is probably a clog. This happens very often as annoying leaves, pine needles, and other debris accumulate inside your gutter if you don't clean them often enough. Remember that the debris will accumulate many times faster if you don't have gutter guards.
   
   Clogs can also happen in your downspout. So, if you don't spot any clogs inside your gutter, remove the downspout, and you might find the clog there.


3. Gutters Are Too Narrow
   You just checked the slope, and it's perfect, and there are no clogs inside your gutter or downspout, but water still overflows during heavy rain? Then, your gutters are probably too narrow.
   
   Many houses have 5-inch gutters even when 6-inch gutters are known to mark a stark difference when handling large amounts of water. Get maximum water-holding capacity without sacrificing your gutter's proper placement by opting for custom-made gutters that fit your roof's angles. Otherwise, you may replace a perfectly functional gutter to fix the problem.

How To Fix Gutters That Overflow in Heavy Rain?

The best way to fix all these problems is by hiring a gutter repair and cleaning company with many years of experience and highly-skilled professionals.

Manufacturing and installation problems are ultimately rare when a professional installs your gutters. However, if that's not your case, you can still avail yourself of their expertise by hiring them to fix any problems.

After your gutters are top-notch, keep in mind that regular maintenance can stop all these problems before they even begin. And this is especially important during the rainy season when you will need to clean your gutters more often.

As a rule of thumb, gutters should be cleaned twice per year. Yet, you might want to clean them more frequently, depending on where you live.

And, if you want to minimize the amount of time and money spent on cleaning your gutters, a great idea is to invest in gutter guards.

What Are Gutter Guards?

Gutter guards keep the inside of your gutters clean and free of debris. Usually made of aluminum, plastic, lightweight metal, or even nylon mesh, a gutter guard is a piece of hardware to fit your gutters' width. It covers the gutter's surface to keep the debris away without affecting water flow toward the downspouts.

Which Are the Best Gutter Guards for Heavy Rain?

All gutter guards will make keeping your gutters clean more effortless. Yet, some do work best in heavy rain than others. These are the ones that guard against small debris while allowing water to flow freely and have a lightweight material that won't put a strain on your roof. The gutter guards that fare best in heavy rain are those with a raised mesh design and an aluminum frame.

Miami Gutter Cleaning Can Help Your Gutter System Withstand Heavy Rain

Miami Gutter Cleaning is a family-owned business with over 20 years of combined experience. We can help you repair your gutters to correct errors from a DIY installation. We also offer gutter cleaning services to keep your gutters in top form.

And we can also help you install rain gutter accessories like leaf guards, head leaders, hangers, filter leaf balls, downspout extensions, and drop outlets.

Get a gutter system that works no matter the circumstances. Call us now at (786) 676-8259 or fill out our website's form to schedule an appointment. Your overflowing gutter problems end today!