Even the highest quality roof will not last long if it does not have an effective drainage system. Consider what drains are in use today, how they need to be looked after, and also how to repair drains if problems arise.
Purpose and types of drainage systems
The main purpose of the gutter system is to regulate the flow of water from the roof of the house. The purpose of installing a drain is to direct the flow of water in the right direction, for example, into storage tanks or into a drainage system.
Today, various types of drains are used, but they can be divided into two large groups:
- plastic;
- Metal.
At the same time, the last group includes systems made of steel with various coatings, copper, and some alloys (for example, zinc-titanium).
It is impossible to say unequivocally which drains are better. Each of the proposed options has its own advantages, but none of them is without disadvantages.
Formerly the main material for the device drainage from the roof was galvanized steel. This option is still used today, since the material is affordable.
However, due to adverse environmental conditions (especially acid rain), such a drainage system can quickly fail due to corrosion. As a rule, such systems require replacement after 10 years of operation.
A more expensive, but also more durable option is polymer-coated steel. In this case, the aesthetic component also wins, since the drainage system will not differ in color from the roofing.
Such gutters for the roof can last up to 30 years. As for zinc-titanium and copper systems, despite their uniquely long service life, they are used much less often due to the high cost of the material and the complexity of installation.
Many are interested in which drainage system is better - plastic or metal? It must be said that it is extremely difficult to give an exact answer to this question.
Plastic - the material is very practical, it is inexpensive, looks good, is easy to install, has a small weight. However, with strong temperature fluctuations, cracks may appear on pipes and gutters.
Installation of drainage systems
Today, no one needs to be convinced of the need for systems such as roof drains - they are installed simultaneously with the construction of the roof.
As a rule, installation work is carried out by professional roofers, however, if you have building skills, this work can be done by yourself.
But, when undertaking to independently carry out this project, it should be remembered that installation errors will lead not only to the need for a complete reinstallation of the entire drainage system, but can also harm the facade of the building, its roof and foundation.
Consider how to hang a drain. The work is carried out in several stages:
- First, it is necessary to fix the brackets on the frontal board or roof rafters, on which the gutter will be laid.
- Brackets must be installed with a calculated slope so that water moves along them by gravity and does not stagnate.
- Then gutters are installed, as well as weirs.
- At the last stage, a downpipe is mounted.
If desired, you can install the heating of the drainage system, for this special electric cables are used. Installing a heating system will keep the water from freezing in the gutter or pipe and prevent blockages due to ice buildup.
Gutter maintenance and system repair
In order for the drainage system to work properly, it is necessary to monitor its cleanliness, remove contaminants in time, and if leaks or other defects are detected, repair drainage systems.
System repairs are required when the following situations occur:
- Identification of errors made during the installation of the system;
- Detection of leaks that occurred at the joints of individual elements;
- Loose fasteners;
- Detection of signs of corrosion on downpipes;
- When identifying a low throughput of pipes caused by clogging.
One of the most common causes of drainage problems is a clogged drain. . This is due to the ingress of fallen leaves, needles and other small debris into the system. To fix the problem, cleaning the drains is required.
To do this, you can use the pressure of water by placing a hose in the drain hole at the top. However, if there is large debris in the gutter, then it will not be possible to eliminate it in this way, you need to clean it manually.
Advice! In order to prevent foliage and other debris from entering the system, it is advisable to install metal or plastic meshes that will play the role of a filter.
Another common cause of poor performance of the drainage system is the incorrect slope of the gutter. Therefore, when carrying out preventive maintenance, it is worth checking the correctness of this parameter.
To do this, fill the gutter with water and check how quickly it leaves. In the event that water stagnation is detected in one of the sections due to the curvature of the gutter, then it is straightened out with a hammer and a wooden boss (of course, we are talking about a gutter made of steel).
Sometimes a problem can be solved by rearranging the bracket supporting the gutter if its fastening is loosened or it was originally installed without taking into account the required slope.
When using pipes made of galvanized steel, repair of the drainage system may be required due to corrosion processes in the metal, as well as when cracks appear.
In this case, for repair it is convenient to use special metallized tapes, which include butyl rubber.
When carrying out repairs, the damaged area is thoroughly cleaned of rust using a metal brush.
Then the place of damage is degreased and a clamp for drainpipes or a patch made of metallized tape is applied. The size of the patch depends on the width of the crack.
Before installing the patch, it is necessary to putty the crack with silicone mastic. The sealing composition is smeared with a spatula on the surface with a thin layer.
Then a patch is applied and bent so that it fits snugly on the surface of the gutter.
It remains to remove the part of the mastic that protruded beyond the edges of the patch, since even small irregularities will create obstacles to the normal flow of water.
If the malfunction is caused by depressurization of joints on metal parts roof drainage system, then the repair proceeds as follows:
- The damaged area is separated, the screws are unscrewed, and if metal rivets were used, they should be drilled out.
- Then a new rubber seal or a layer of silicone mastic is applied to the joint, after which both parts of the joint are joined.
- The parts are fixed with new ties.
And how are drainpipes repaired if they are made of plastic? In this case, to eliminate leaks at the joints, they use the installation of new rubber gaskets or coat the cracks with dichloroethane-based glue.
Silicone sealant can be used to provide a higher degree of tightness.
conclusions
To ensure reliable operation of the spillway and extend its service life, it is necessary to regularly inspect the elements included in the system.
As a rule, it is recommended to carry out an audit of the state of the drainage system in spring and autumn. Winter is the most difficult period, as ice freezes in the pipes, which can lead to cracks and deformation of parts.
Therefore, immediately after the establishment of warm weather, you should check the condition of all elements of the drainage system and, if necessary, carry out repairs.
Be sure to check the reliability of fastening clamps and brackets. Since a poorly fixed downpipe is a source of increased danger, since when it falls, considerable damage can be caused to both human health and material values.
In autumn, you need to make sure that there is no debris in the gutters and funnels. And so that there is no need to make unscheduled repairs during the winter, you should install a heating system or at least put protective covers for the funnels.
It should be remembered that the repair of gutters is a job associated with a high degree of risk for the person performing it. Therefore, the employee must comply with all safety requirements when working at height.
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