What is a downspout?
Simply put, the purpose of a downspout is to direct water -- from rain, condensation, melting ice, or melting snow -- away from your house. Every house has a system of gutters that run horizontally along its roof line to catch water. Downspouts are essentially hollow, vertical tubes that connect to the gutters (every 30' - 40') and carry rainwater down into the yard and away from the foundation of your house.
The importance of downspout extensions
Downspout extensions help to carry water further away from the foundation of the house, re-directing it to a specific location in the surrounding area. In other words, they allow you to exert more control over exactly where on your property the
rainwater ends up. This is very important, because water can potentially cause much damage not only to your home's foundation, but also to your roof and to your flower beds. Water that doesn't drain properly can pool on your roof and cause structural damage to your home, it can damage soffit and fascia boards, and it can cause erosion to your landscaping. Additionally, if it is not re-directed away from your home's foundation, it can cause flooding, moisture, and mold issues in your basement or crawl space.
How to properly maintain and care for downspouts
In order to ensure that your downspouts are always doing their job, it's best to regularly inspect them to make sure they are not clogged or damaged in any way. You'll also want to make sure that they haven't moved and are properly positioned to direct water to a desired location. One way to prevent downspouts from clogging is to install gutter guards on your downspout extensions. Because they are vital to the structural integrity of your home, we recommend calling a gutter and downspout professional for top-notch maintenance and installation services!