Gutters and downpipes

Are your gutters doing their one job?

Gutters catch the water off the roof and get it away from the house. When they block, it goes wherever it likes. Ten quick questions, from the ground.

Check my gutters (2 minutes, free, no sign-up). Book Your Pre-Storm CheckPoint. Read the full guide.

The questions

1. In heavy rain, does water pour over the edge of the gutters? Especially in the same spot every time. If not: Water over the edge ends up in the eaves or at the base of the walls. Clear the gutters and check the downpipes.
2. Is grass, weeds or anything else growing in the gutters? If not: Time for a clean: gloves, eye protection and a scoop, not your bare hands. Or leave it to someone with the gear.
3. Are any gutters sagging, pulling away from the fascia, or missing brackets? If not: A damaged gutter or one pulling away is a job for someone with the right equipment. Get it repaired.
4. Do you see rust spots, holes, or joins that drip? If not: Get the rusted or leaking sections repaired or replaced.
5. Are there stains, bubbling or peeling paint on the eaves or fascia boards? If not: Probably overflow running behind the gutter. Over time it rots the fascia and sags the eave lining. Get it looked at.
6. Are there water marks or mould on the ceiling near an outside wall? If not: Overflow can get into the wall cavity. Get the gutters and the roofline looked at.
7. When it is pouring, does water come out the bottom of every downpipe, with no gurgling or leaking joins? Or run a hose into the top of each one: it should flow freely out the bottom. If not: A clean gutter with a blocked downpipe still overflows. Blockages are often at a bend or where it goes underground: underground drainage is a job for a licensed plumber.
8. Are there puddles or washed-out soil at the base of the walls? If not: Probably overflow off the front edge, or water not getting away. Check the gutters and downpipes.
9. Have the gutters been cleaned since last storm season? Few trees: once a year is often enough. Trees nearby: again after heavy leaf drop. Big trees over the roof: every few months. If not: Clean them before the storms start. If you only do it once a year, do it in early spring.
10. If you have box gutters, have they been cleared and checked? Box gutters sit inside the roofline rather than hanging off the edge. Answer yes if you have none. If not: When box gutters block, water can end up inside the house. Keep them clear and get them checked.

A self-check, not an inspection. People get badly hurt falling off ladders doing this exact job. Leave it to someone with the gear if the ground is sloping or uneven, you would need to get on the roof, the gutter is damaged, or powerlines run near the gutter line.

More free checks

• Storm Ready Score: how ready is your home?: Ten quick yes or no questions about your home, a score out of 10 and what to sort before the storms. Free, two minutes.
• Storm season checklist: is your home ready?: Twelve quick questions from the SEQ storm season checklist. See what is done and what to sort before the first big storm. Free, three minutes.
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• Gutters and downpipes: the boring job that saves the house: Ten quick questions to tell if your gutters and downpipes need attention, how often to clean them in SEQ and when to leave the ladder in the shed.
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• Why your quotes go cold: a two-minute self-check: A lot of quotes are not lost on price. Seven yes or no questions for trade businesses to find where quotes leak between the enquiry and the yes.
• What are cold quotes costing your business?: Four sliders, two minutes, no sign-up. See what slips away a year when quotes go unanswered. Example only: revenue, not profit.
• Property manager storm checklist: are you ready?: A storm hits every property on your list at once. Twelve quick questions for property managers and landlords: what is done, and what to sort first.

Linc Point

Linc Point (sometimes spelt Link Point), ABN 48 535 502 159. Call 0458 381 559 or email linc@lincpoint.com.au. Brisbane and South East Queensland, Bribie Island to Helensvale. Website: lincpoint.com.au. Tools for trade businesses: lincpoint.online.