Adjusting Rain Gutter Slope

Gutters need to be pitched toward the downspouts for the water to flow properly.

Adjusting rain gutter slope.

You want at least a quarter inch of slope for every 10 feet. You can unscrew them or use a pry bar to remove the fastener holding the hanger in place lower it the correct amount and refasten. For example if you have 30 feet of guttering the calculation is 1 4 x 3 0 75 i e. For example if the gutter is 16 feet long the end near the down spout must be 1 inch lower than the starting end.

First determine the location of each one of your downspouts. This simple act can turn problem gutters into an efficient drainage system. Put a temporary screw at the back to adjust the pitch. If it is improperly pitched you will need to adjust the gutter slope.

To adjust the slope of the gutter wearing gloves pop out the gutter pegs on the side and around the corners. Use a hammer and crowbar to loosen the gutter. Excessive wind water and debris can knock the gutters out of this alignment. Multiply the number of feet by 1 16 inch to determine the total slope the gutter requires.

Loosen the drip edge with a screwdriver. Get on a ladder after a rainstorm and look in the gutter. To correct this yourself you ll need to measure from the peak to the downspout. Next place a ladder at the left side of the house and measure from the roof down to the gutter.

Then fasten one end of the string at the highest point of the gutter and the other at the spot where the downspout will be. Drop the gutter to the desired angle sloping it toward the downspout. If there s standing water it s not pitched properly. The gutters were installed using the roof pitch so they slope toward the downspouts.

If your gutters don t slope then you only need to adjust the hangers and lower them slightly where necessary to achieve the correct slope. As a general rule gutter slope is set at 1 4 inch per 10 feet of guttering. This means the downspout end of the gutter should be set 3 4 of an inch lower than the other end. Ask someone to hold the gutter while you loosen and remove the gutter brackets or hangers.