The exterior of your home and its condition during a heavy downpour or during heavy spring thaw may not be something you get a chance to or consider inspecting. However, the drainage system comprising your home's roof gutters, downspouts, and lateral drainage is the most important area of your home, as it protects your home's interior from moisture intrusion and damage. For this reason, it is reasonable to make sure your gutters and downspouts along with the flow of your drainage are working properly to protect against moisture problems. Here are some recommendations for you to use as you protect your home with the right drainage system.

Inspect and Maintain Your Gutters

The gutter system that has been installed on your home may be many years old, and it also may not be sufficient to collect water as it should. Do you know if your home's gutters work properly? If you don't know their condition, it is a good idea to have them inspected by a gutter professional. 

A gutter professional can check the gutters installed on your roof's edges to make sure they are installed in all the important areas to collect runoff and keep it off the soil around the foundation of your home. The gutters also need to be the proper width and capacity if you experience heavy rainfall in your area or your roof's surface is larger than an average home. 

Your gutters may also be cracking at their seams and connections if you have a gutter system that is not seamless, or your gutters may be filled with leaves and debris if you have a large number of trees in the area. You can consider installing gutter guards, but make sure you clean them of organic debris on a regular basis. Then, make sure the connections to your roof are secure and not causing your gutters to sag and pull away from the roof.

Update Your Downspout Drainage

The downspouts on your gutters are similarly important as the efficiency of your gutters. If your downspouts are not sufficient, are clogged, or deposit runoff in the wrong area, they will fail you. 

Be sure your downspouts work seamlessly to deliver rainfall well away from your home's structure. This can be accomplished with downspout diverters to carry water at least five or more feet from your home, a dry well installed within your yard to collect runoff, or gravel or concrete splash block to receive the gutter water and disperse it into the soil.

For more information, contact a company like Art's Custom Seamless Gutters  Inc.