Hail on the roof

Let’s talk about the importance of gutter maintenance. Sure, you probably climb a ladder once a year and clear out the worst of the leaf litter, but could your gutters handle a freak hail storm in Brisbane? Is your water tank well maintained to ensure any overflow of water is stored in the tank?

It’s been a decade of heavy downpours. Nothing like droughts and flooding rains to put pressure on your guttering and water tanks. But with the more turbulent Brisbane summer storms, those turbulent 5pm thunderstorms, comes isolated pockets of hail. It’s not just about clearing out the leaves, your gutters need to withstand being pounded with ice – sometimes the size of a pebble, occasionally the size of a golf ball. Are you gutters in the right shape for summer hail storms in Brisbane?

Gutter Maintenance

Rusty galvanised pipes aren’t Brisbane’s only rusty problem. Leaf litter build up in your gutters can lead to rust holes forming. Poorly maintained, damaged or incorrectly installed gutters don’t just mean a bit of leakage during big rain events, there’s a whole lot more going on up there.

Well-maintained gutters can:

  • Protect fascia boards and roofing timbers
  • Prevent damage of overflowing water to footings and foundations
  • Prevent water ingress during rain events
  • Remove the attraction for mosquitos carrying RRF and Zika, as pooled water is the perfect breeding ground
  • Prevent the breakdown of moist leaves and debris, which can leach acid and rust gutters quickly

An inspection from our pro Brisbane plumbers can check your gutters are correctly installed and we can identify rust and give a quote for the replacement before it becomes an emergency plumbing problem.

Rainwater Collection Maintenance

The condition of your gutters and downpipes will determine the health of your rainwater collection system. When hail melts, it will carry whatever is sitting in your gutters, through to your rainwater tank.

A well-maintained rainwater collection system can:

  • Prevent health hazards
  • Prevent mosquito infestations
  • Extend the life of your water pump
  • Prolong the life of your toilet cisterns. Dirty tank water can cause the inner parts of your toilet cistern to deteriorate. It can also cause the toilet to smell. When a toilet flushes, water turns into an aerosol which you can inhale and this can be bad for your health.
  • Prolong the life of your washing machine as dirty tank water can stain the inner drum of the machine and leave an odour.
  • Prolong the life of your irrigation or pool gear. If you’re using rainwater tanks to supply outdoor water systems, keeping the water clear of rust particles and other debris will reduce damage to your irrigation or pool systems.

To ensure your gutters and rainwater collection system are in good working order, contact Salmon Plumbing for an inspection.