Rainwater Running Along Gutters and Dripping - HELP
#1
08-09-07, 04:31 PM
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Rainwater Running Along Gutters and Dripping - HELP
We have a small house in Pittsburgh, PA, and we have been getting water in the basement from the front of the house only during significant rainfall.
We consulted a waterproofing company here and through a bit of speculation and looking at the evidence in flowerbeds below the gutters, we decided the water getting in could be the result of the gutter-guards...or something else. There is a definite water drip pattern worn in the soil of the flowerbeds just below, and this looks as if it is running down the bottom lip of the gutters and down, eventually making its way in the basement through the foundation.
I removed these gutter-guards, and the results are in. We are still taking on water.
Is there an easy way to prevent water from running along the bottom like this? It may be simple, and I could be a bit ignorant on this subject, but I'm stumped.
Before I spend $ 2,200 on a French drain, I would like some opinions? Got any?
Thanks in advance.
Daniel
We consulted a waterproofing company here and through a bit of speculation and looking at the evidence in flowerbeds below the gutters, we decided the water getting in could be the result of the gutter-guards...or something else. There is a definite water drip pattern worn in the soil of the flowerbeds just below, and this looks as if it is running down the bottom lip of the gutters and down, eventually making its way in the basement through the foundation.
I removed these gutter-guards, and the results are in. We are still taking on water.
Is there an easy way to prevent water from running along the bottom like this? It may be simple, and I could be a bit ignorant on this subject, but I'm stumped.
Before I spend $ 2,200 on a French drain, I would like some opinions? Got any?
Thanks in advance.
Daniel
#2
08-09-07, 04:51 PM
Is the gutter tight and back to the fascia board. Or do you need flashing down from the drip edge to in the gutter??? Take a hose and see what you have . Is the down spout stopped up???
#3
08-09-07, 04:52 PM
Member
Are gutters and downspouts clear? Usually when water over runs the gutters, the downspouts are clogged. That is, unless you have such a torrential rain that the gutters can not accommodate the flow.
#4
08-09-07, 05:11 PM
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These are all good questions...
It's a brand new roof, and things look OK to me at the drip edge, and I did clear some debris after removing the guards. Things seem pretty clear to me, but I am no expert. This happens fairly often after a somewhat steady rain.
I can take another look at the fascia and again at the downspouts. I will report back after the rain stops...
thanks all!
Daniel
It's a brand new roof, and things look OK to me at the drip edge, and I did clear some debris after removing the guards. Things seem pretty clear to me, but I am no expert. This happens fairly often after a somewhat steady rain.
I can take another look at the fascia and again at the downspouts. I will report back after the rain stops...
thanks all!
Daniel
#6
08-10-07, 06:10 AM
Member
Gutter Drains
How is the water carried away from the house? Are the downspouts fed into drain pipes? If so, are these drains pipes clogged by roots or debris?
#7
08-11-07, 07:14 AM
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I checked the downspouts and they go right into the drainpipes and out into the street. They are clear. I tested these with a hose already.
I guess my challenge is now trying to figure out what is causing the water to roll over the gutter and down the edge and down into the flowerbed below.
There is flashing under the drip edge of the shingles between the fascia and gutter.
I guess my challenge is now trying to figure out what is causing the water to roll over the gutter and down the edge and down into the flowerbed below.
There is flashing under the drip edge of the shingles between the fascia and gutter.
#8
08-11-07, 01:18 PM
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UPDATE:
I ran a hose up and watched as the water ran. I made 2 observations that seem significant.
1) there are mesh "catches" in the downspout holes that are catching leaves, etc. There were clumps of leaves piled up, and it does not seem hard to believe that water would fill up and run over.
2) I also noticed that when I ran the hose in the gutters and blasted a bit of forceful water I noticed that some water did actually seem to get up and in between the flashing and fascia / roof line and I did notice it drip in exactly the places that seems to be the problem areas.
Could it be that if the water fills up the gutter, its running in between the flashing and roof line and dripping this way?
Am I better off getting rid of the mesh caps on the downspout junctions? Am I then at risk for getting clogs in the drainage pipes?
Thanks again.
I ran a hose up and watched as the water ran. I made 2 observations that seem significant.
1) there are mesh "catches" in the downspout holes that are catching leaves, etc. There were clumps of leaves piled up, and it does not seem hard to believe that water would fill up and run over.
2) I also noticed that when I ran the hose in the gutters and blasted a bit of forceful water I noticed that some water did actually seem to get up and in between the flashing and fascia / roof line and I did notice it drip in exactly the places that seems to be the problem areas.
Could it be that if the water fills up the gutter, its running in between the flashing and roof line and dripping this way?
Am I better off getting rid of the mesh caps on the downspout junctions? Am I then at risk for getting clogs in the drainage pipes?
Thanks again.
#9
08-11-07, 01:31 PM
Member
Rainwater Running Along Gutters and Dripping - HELP
The amount of water you get from drips will not cause water in your basement.
Check all other pipes and the general drainage.
Is this a new problem?
Dick
Check all other pipes and the general drainage.
Is this a new problem?
Dick
#10
08-11-07, 02:09 PM
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Thanks.
This is new to us since moving in December, but there was a note in the disclosure statement when we were purchasing the home to that effect. Of course, they minimized the description of the problem.
All drainage from the gutters seems to be OK, with the exception of the drips from gutters. There is soil splashing up against the house in the areas and on the sides where water is getting in the basement. I guess that is why we figured the problem is related.
Aside from checking if the downspouts are draining OK, what else can I check?
I am missing some mortar here and there...but I don't know how far down that problem goes...
Thanks again.
Daniel
This is new to us since moving in December, but there was a note in the disclosure statement when we were purchasing the home to that effect. Of course, they minimized the description of the problem.
All drainage from the gutters seems to be OK, with the exception of the drips from gutters. There is soil splashing up against the house in the areas and on the sides where water is getting in the basement. I guess that is why we figured the problem is related.
Aside from checking if the downspouts are draining OK, what else can I check?
I am missing some mortar here and there...but I don't know how far down that problem goes...
Thanks again.
Daniel
#11
08-12-07, 06:50 AM
Member
Describe what the roof line looks like in that area. Sometimes if you have multiple roof lines of different pitchs, lots of ridges and valleys all converging on one area you can get an overload situation. The gutters just can not capture the volume of water genereated and it overflows.
Is the gutter seated well up against the fascia? If you can get overflow behind the gutter from a garden hose, then maybe a couple of additional hangers are needed.
Is the gutter seated well up against the fascia? If you can get overflow behind the gutter from a garden hose, then maybe a couple of additional hangers are needed.
