The Golden State: Where & How to Live, Secure, Visit, Enjoy and Thrive in California
Care And Repair Of The House
Replacement and Care of Leaders, or Down-Spout Pipe.
Leaders require less attention than gutters, but a certain amount of care is necessary. Slush working down into elbows will freeze there. Often it forces the seams and folds to open slightly and a small amount of water begins to drip. A leak is more common where leaders are not corrugated to allow for expansion. When a leak starts it should be promptly checked, for otherwise the defect will develop quickly until the whole elbow is broken. A metal leader tube filled with water subjected to recurrent freezing and thawing will fail by splitting.
It is sometimes necessary to replace all or part of a down-spout pipe because of corrosion. This should not be a difficult task, since the pipe usually comes in sections and one piece fits into another like stovepipe. When inserting a piece, be sure that the upper piece fits inside the lower, so that the water can not escape. For an extra good job the sections may be soldered together at the joints.
In many localities it is unlawful to connect a down spout to a sanitary sewer. In case such connection is permitted, however, a clean-out trap should be provided at the base of the down spout to facilitate cleaning and to prevent the passage of foul odors from the sewer.
Repairs to Fastenings.
Metal gutters are often attached to the eaves by means of straps of tin or other metal. These straps may become broken or pulled loose from their fastenings, allowing the gutter to sag, preventing proper draining. In this event broken pieces should be removed and replaced by new ones, and loose straps should be refastened securely. After completing these repairs, sight along the top of the gutter to see that there is a uniform grade or slope down to the outlet end. If the slope is not uniform, it may be necessary to shorten or lengthen a strap or two.
Box-Type Gutters.
In case the gutter is of the box or trough type, made of wood and lined with metal, the lining should be examined for signs of cracking. If the trough is deep and narrow, expansion of ice in the gutter may force out the exterior wall of the trough, causing the metal to split. On account of this possibility, shallow and wide box gutters are best, since they permit ice to expand over the edge without injuring the box. Box type gutters should be lined with rustles metal, or swabbed with bituminous material, or both.
