Maintenance Matters: Preventing Rust in Gutter Ducts
The pipes that we use in the installation of roof rainwater collection systems are made of very durable materials that resist inclement weather. However, it may happen that you have old gutters that have been deteriorating over time or even that are not of the best quality. In these cases, it is essential to remove the rust from the gutters to avoid major problems. Read on to find out what you have to do in these cases.
How to clean rust from ductwork?
Rust is a very bad companion to any system to evacuate rainwater since the most common thing is that it ends up corroding the material of the gutter ducts until it forms a hole. Therefore, if you detect that there are rusty areas in zinc or any other metal gutters, it is time to do a gutter repair. To solve this problem you should contact a gutter expert who will do the following:
The first step is to sand the affected area to remove as much rust as possible. This step can be done by hand with a steel brush or with specialized machinery.
Next, the professional will apply a specific product to protect the material and prevent rust from reappearing.
It is also possible to paint the area with special paint. Although it will always depend on the material of the gutter ducts.
Once the product or the paint has dried, all that remains is to check that there are no traces of rust to finish the repair.
There are times when the rust has deteriorated the rain gutters so much that it is not possible to fix it, in those cases it only remains to remove the damaged parts and replace them with new ones. Or, worst case scenario, do a new storm gutter installation.
What to do to prevent the appearance of rust in rain gutters?
It is true that there are materials that are more prone to rust, but it should not be the case for those used in a quality gutter installation. At least not in a few years since its assembly. In any case, it is essential to carry out gutter maintenance tasks such as periodic inspections and cleanings that allow any incident to be detected and resolved as soon as possible.
It is recommended to do these tasks at least once a year before the arrival of winter, although for an optimal state the idea is to repeat it in spring. That way, if some rust does appear on the surface of the gutter ducts, you’ll be able to remove it before it causes more problems.
