It may not be necessary for you to replace your entire rain gutter system when you notice that the gutters overflow when it rains. Other steps can be taken to correct that situation. This article discusses some of those helpful steps that you should consider in case your gutters overflow when it rains.

Install More Downspouts

One of the measures that can limit the chance that gutters will overflow is to install additional downspouts. The pitch of your roof may be so steep that water runs down that roof at a very high rate. The result of that high flow rate is that the gutters will quickly fill up before the water can flow down the available downspouts. The extra water eventually ends up overflowing from the gutters. Thus, the addition of extra downspouts can help to increase the rate at which accumulated water flows out of the gutters so that the gutters stop overflowing.

Check the Gutter Installation

Another reason why gutters may overflow is improper installation. Gutters need to slope at a slight angle so that gravity can cause the water to flow quickly towards the downspouts. Some gutters do not have a sufficient slope to channel water towards the downspouts as quickly as that water flows down the roof.

Checking the slope of the gutters may require some technical skills that you may lack as a layperson. It may therefore be advisable for you to contact a professional so that he or she can advise you about what should be done to correct any installation errors that were made.

Check for Clogs

Rain gutters may also overflow in case there is something, such as a clog, impeding the flow of water within the gutter system. The clogs that are hardest to identify usually occur within the downspouts. For instance, a small animal, such as a squirrel, may have been trapped inside the downspout. This blockage can slow or even stop the flow of water through that downspout. The resultant water backup can cause the gutters to overflow. You should therefore check how clear each downspout is by using an appropriate tool, such as a plumber's snake. Any clog should be removed so that water can flow freely. You should also ensure that the gutters are free from any accumulation of debris, such as tree leaves and dust.

You may consider upgrading your rain gutter system in case the measures above fail to solve the problem of water overflowing from those gutters on your roof.