Should You Extend Your Gutters?

While rainwater is essential in keeping your lawn and plant life hydrated, it's sometimes "too much of a good thing" if you've got water constantly hitting your home's foundation. This can happen when your gutters are located too close to your home's exterior, and there's not enough room for water to drain properly. If you're concerned about excess water seeping into your basement or crawlspace during the rainy season, you may be a good candidate for a gutter downspout extension to aid in effective drainage.

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What Are Gutter Downspout Extenders?

Gutter downspout extenders attach to your existing downspouts to create extra space between your home and incoming moisture. They're designed to extend gutter downspouts by four to over 20 feet, which allows rainwater and melted snow to safely move away from your home's foundation.

The four types of downspout extensions are rigid, flexible, roll-out and underground. Here's a breakdown of each type:

• Rigid downspout extensions: A rigid extension consists of durable aluminum or vinyl and attaches directly to your existing downspout. These extensions lengthen your downspouts by four to six feet to help prevent water from soaking into your foundation.

• Flexible downspout extensions: Designed with corrugated plastic, flexible extensions attach to your downspouts and bend easily for routing around landscaping and walkways. These extensions are best suited for properties with tight corners or unique landscaping features.

• Roll-out extensions: Sometimes called flip-out extensions, these downspout extenders attach to your downspouts and unroll or "flip" out when water flows through the tube. Once the extenders are dry, they roll back up until they're needed again.

• Underground extensions: Underground downspout extenders connect to your downspouts via pipes buried in your ground soil. Since the pipes are below ground, they can move water as far as 20 or more feet away from your home's foundation.

What Happens if Downspouts Are Too Close to the Foundation?

Downspouts that sit within three to four feet of your home's foundation increase the risk for cracks, water leaks into your basement, soil erosion, and structural damage. Rapid water discharge from improperly installed gutters can also cause standing water to pool inside and outside of your home, creating the perfect environment for mold growth and pest infestations.

The best course of action is to install extenders if your downspouts are less than five feet from your home. It's also a good idea to keep an eye out for potential issues. Some common signs of water damage due to downspouts in close proximity of your foundation include:

• Muddy or sinking soil: If the soil surrounding your gutter downspouts appears sunken or overly saturated after a rainstorm, this may be due to short downspouts. In some cases, the excess saturation can work its way beneath your home's foundation and into your basement or crawlspace.

• Mold or mildew in your basement or crawlspace: Gutter downspouts close to your home's foundation can release gallons of water over time. Excess water can create foundation cracks that allow moisture to enter. Over time, moisture build-up can lead to mold and mildew growth.

• Cracked bricks: Overly-saturated soil can cause your foundation to lose its load-bearing capacity (the maximum weight it can withstand without shifting). If not addressed, your foundation may start to shrink, leading to pressure that tears mortar and worsens existing brick cracks.

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• What Happens If You Don’t Clean Your Gutters?

• Winter Gutter Maintenance Checklist

• Frozen Gutters be Dammed! 6 Ways to Eliminate Ice Dams

What Are the Pros and Cons of Gutter Downspout Extension Installation?

If you're thinking of installing gutter downspout extensions, it's important to consider both the benefits and potential drawbacks. Here's a breakdown of the pros and cons of extended gutters:

Pros

Installing gutter downspout extensions allows water to move further away from your home's foundation, which may help prevent issues like foundation cracks, flooding, basement leaks and mold growth. Above-ground gutter extenders are also easy to install, and they can help homeowners save money by lowering the risk of costly foundation repairs and/or mold remediation.

Cons

Gutter downspout extensions may create tripping hazards or interfere with lawn care when installed above ground. While fairly easy to maintain, the plastic or metal tubing can accumulate leaves, grass clippings and other types of outdoor debris. If the extensions aren't cleaned on a regular basis, it can lead to clogs and blockages.