Looking Up at the Downspout: Roof Causes of Trickle Down Dampness

Last time we met, we talked about your basement and “walked the foundation.” Now that we’ve scouted the foundation, it’s time to look upward and similarly “walk the roof.”

Without fail, the essential core issue of the mold problem in any given home we visit grows out of one of these two key areas of rainwater management. That’s because a great majority of the time, wetness from rainwater is due to trouble at the bottom AND top of the downspouts. 

If you’ve ever heard me say, “Indoor air quality starts outside,” the following offers a good example why that statement holds true.

At the bottom of any given downspout, the trouble lies in obstructions, leaks, and poor assembly. These issues allow water to escape from the bottom of the downspout close to the foundation of the house. Instead, it should direct the water onward. The water necessarily flows into a connected drain where it moves onward. Finally, the water is released, flowing downhill and away from the house.

To get to the bottom of the problem, look at the top

Now comes the hard part: In order to resolve downspout issues, we need to look up. The top end of the downspout is almost always problematic. I see this problem in house after house after house. 

Each time I get up on a ladder, I see that a range of material has plugged the hole in the gutter. The plug is blocking the opening where the rainwater is supposed to go down into the top of the downspout. 

The things I find never cease to amaze; here are just some of the stuff: Leaves, twigs, tree seed material, shingle gravel, leaf decay material, moss, and plant seedlings and these give way to dog toys, shingles, flashing, tennis balls, empty drink bottles and Nerf darts. In the end, one finds loads of stuff plugging the opening at the top of any given downspout. 

All waterfalls are not pretty 

Unsurprisingly, the interference causes the gutters to totally fill with water. Within moments, even a light rain begins to waterfall from the gutters. The result is a water source that soaks the foundation of the house.

Regrettably, it is not enough to “have the gutters cleaned every fall.” Somebody has to go up a ladder, walk the roof, and pull away these objects and sludge materials. Otherwise, you’re likely to end up with the wet, damp, humid conditions that contribute to unhealthy air quality inside your home.