How Gutters Work

There they collect the torrents of water that come from the roof during rainstorms and direct them to a safe area for discharge via downspouts.

How gutters work. Think of it as a system of small canals that are open at the top to catch rainwater running off the roof channeling all the excess water into the downspouts to be drained down to the ground and away from the home. In many cases this area is simply far enough away from the house to avoid foundation damage. Quality downspouts expel water well away from the house. As the water pools it travels through the gutter system to the downspout.

Leafguard gutters work on a simple but powerful scientific principle known as liquid adhesion. During rain water rolls down from the slope of the roof to the gutters. Gutters are made of metal most often aluminum and are usually installed around the edges of the roof. This allows rainwater to travel around the hood and into the gutter while deflecting leaves and other debris to never clog.

Usually gutters are installed on a slight slope that encourages the water to run away from the house and toward downspouts that are installed at the corners of the house. Downspouts harmlessly divert the water away from the house and may even send water into rain barrels where the water can be collected and stored for other uses. Downspouts carry water from the gutters to the base of the house.