A gutter can only protect the facade from damage caused by rainwater if it is not damaged itself. Therefore, you should avoid freezing.
Autumn is here and temperatures are already dropping below freezing in some places. Anyone who has not yet started preparing their garden and house for winter should definitely do so. Not everyone will immediately think of the gutter here. However, this should definitely be prepared for the winter. In the following I will explain why this is the case and what tasks can arise.
Frost clogs gutter
In the cold season, temperatures are often below freezing for a long time. When water turns to ice, it expands considerably and can cause gutters and downspouts to burst or at least crack. Such damage means that water runs down the house wall and can cause further damage there in the event of frost.
Prevent ice in the gutter
The best protection for the gutter is to prevent ice from forming in the first place. The first thing to do is to thoroughly clean the gutter and downpipes. A second measure can be a heater for the gutter.
Clean gutter
Rooftop cleaning should be subjected to a deep cleaning at least once a year to remove existing foliage. If there are deciduous trees in the immediate vicinity, the rain gutter should be cleared of leaves several times a year. The foliage can contribute to the fact that the rain can no longer run off and ultimately overflows. As a result, the water then runs down the house wall - in the worst case even into the basement - where it can damage the masonry and even cause mold.
You can clean the gutter and downpipes by hand or you can use special equipment that you can find in hardware stores and that can make your work a lot easier. But see for yourself:
By loading the video, you accept YouTube's privacy policy.
Learn more
Load video
YouTube alwaysunlock
Tip: Once you have cleaned the gutter, you can use a leaf guard to prevent leaves from collecting in your gutter again.
Heat gutter
Even clean gutters and downpipes can ice up. You can prevent this with a gutter heater. To heat gutters and downpipes, simply lay small cables or a heating tape. Depending on the type of heating and the size of the pipes, it may also be necessary to lay the cable twice. You can operate and adjust the heating via connected controllers.
It is best to buy such heaters for the gutter in specialist shops. There you will receive the necessary information on various products and advice on which product makes sense for you and which rather not. Because the right performance is essential for optimal heat dissipation.
Tip: Even if such heaters are in continuous operation and therefore constantly need electricity, the operating costs are significantly cheaper than the costs for an extensive renovation caused by frost damage to the building is required.
Repair gutter defects
Before winter sets in, you should inspect the gutter and downspouts carefully. Because they are exposed to heat, cold, drought or moisture all year round. This can cause small cracks and holes through which water can escape. This would leave the façade unprotected against the water. For this reason, you should eliminate the damage as soon as possible. An endoscope camera can help to detect damage inside the downspouts .
Close small damages with silicone
You can seal small cracks with silicone. It is best to get a solvent-free product at the hardware store and - if you don't already have one - a silicone syringe.
Before you can start sealing, you must thoroughly clean the damaged area and then dry it well so that the silicone adheres better. Once done, you can get started:
❶ Apply the silicone to the tear or hole with the syringe.
❷ Spread and smooth the silicone with a finger soaked in soapy water.
Tip: The soapy water prevents the silicone from sticking to the finger and thus enables better distribution.
❸ Remove the silicone residue from the gutter so that the water can drain off optimally.
Gutterrepair with sealant
There is a special sealant for repairing damaged gutters in hardware stores. This is suitable for gutters made of a wide range of materials such as aluminium, plastic, copper and zinc. In addition to the sealant, you will need an appropriately sized spatula or brush to apply it with.
Choose a dry day for application and thoroughly clean the damaged area. Then simply apply the sealant to the damaged area with a brush or spatula. After a few hours, the mass has hardened.
Sealing tape for repairing major damage
The repair options already mentioned will not get you very far with larger cracks and holes. Here you prefer to use a sealing tape that you can also get in the hardware store. This consists of aluminum and is covered with a layer of bitumen. They are also provided with a special adhesive on one side. This makes it very easy to assemble. You will also need a hot air gun for assembly.
You can repair the gutter in just three steps:
❶ Thoroughly clean the gutter - especially the outside.
❷ Heat the sealing tape with the heat gun.
❸ Apply the sealing tape to the outside of the gutter.
Tip: The tape reliably seals the damaged area immediately after installation.
You can also use such sealing tape if you need to quickly seal a roof:
By loading the video, you accept YouTube's privacy policy.
Learn more
Load video
Always Unblock YouTube
Adhesive tape - quick solution in winter
If, despite all precautions, the rain gutter is damaged by frost in winter, a quick and, above all, uncomplicated interim solution is needed. There are strong adhesive tapes on the market that can temporarily cover such tears.
Note, however, that it is imperative that you repair the damage properly when the weather warms up again.
When should you consult a professional?
In the case of metal gutters, it is better from an aesthetic point of view to weld the damaged areas with a TIG welder. If you do not have experience with this, it is better to have these tasks performed by a person with the appropriate training. After all, you don't want toaccidentally set fire to the building.
It is better to leave the repair work to a specialist or a specialist company if the gutter is at a great height. Roofers, for example, have the equipment and experience to safely carry out jobs like gutter repairs at height.