The drainage system is very important for any building. If it is not installed, the foundation, base and walls will be negatively affected by precipitation, which in turn will lead to their rapid wear. The drain provides drainage of rain and melt water from the building, protecting it from premature destruction.
Pro Tip: For top-notch gutter services in Fernandina Beach, FL, trust us to keep your property protected from water damage. Our expert team offers professional installation, repairs, and maintenance to ensure optimal performance year-round.
The drainage system must function properly throughout the year, since its task is not only to protect the building from rain, but also from snow. With sharp temperature fluctuations, frosts are replaced by thaws, which quite often occurs in winter and spring and can lead to icing of gutters and pipes. As a result, the drainage system will fail. Therefore, it is necessary to maintain it in good condition in any season. Let’s talk about the features of operating a drainage system in winter.
Today there are two types of gutters on the market: metal and plastic.
Metal gutters in winter, in frost
Metal drainage systems are durable and can withstand heavy loads, including an impressive layer of snow cover. They do not deform under its weight and tolerate frosts down to -50 degrees. However, they still have a vulnerability. For example, if there are scratches on a pipe that were not noticed and corrected in time, this is not good.
Why? Under constant exposure to dampness, the scratched areas will begin to rust – the corrosion process will begin. Repairing such damage in cold weather is not easy, since the damaged area must first be treated and then coated with a special polymer composition. It is difficult to carry out work in the cold, and the result will be ineffective, since the polymer may not adhere tightly enough to the cold and damp pipe.
Another point that you need to pay attention to when using a metal drain in winter is the formation of ice on the inner walls of the pipes. Let’s take the following situation as an example. In the fall, a section of the drain became clogged with fallen leaves, then there was a heavy rainfall, and the water remained in the pipe because it was not able to completely seep through the blockage. At night, the temperature dropped below zero, and the water in the pipe froze – in such a situation, the metal pipe could simply burst.
One more example. During heavy snowfall, a snow plug formed in the drain. Then, with a rapid alternation of thaws and frosts, the melted snow did not have time to go down, but froze tightly to the walls of the pipe. This kind of ice is very difficult to remove without damaging the drain. All these nuances must be taken into account when preparing a metal drainage system for the winter.
Plastic gutters in winter, in frost
Modern technologies make it possible to produce plastic drainage systems with excellent performance characteristics. They are no less durable than metal ones and can withstand frosts down to -40 degrees. This is more than enough for the climatic conditions of our country. In addition, PVC gutters do not have the same vulnerabilities that metal gutters have.
Let’s consider this point in more detail. Unlike metal, plastic is not afraid of mechanical damage. Therefore, if you accidentally scratch a pipe and do not notice, under the influence of heavy rains and heavy snowfalls it will not begin to rust – plastic is not susceptible to corrosion.
We have already said above that ice formed on the inner walls of metal pipes is very difficult to remove. With plastic, things are much simpler. This material has low adhesive characteristics, that is, ice sticks to it much less strongly than to metal. It can be removed without much effort without damaging the pipe itself. To prevent the drain from cracking during sharp temperature fluctuations from atmospheric precipitation accumulated inside, special technologies are used in its production that allow the pipes to withstand significant loads and avoid deformation.
Additional measures to protect gutters in winter
In order not to worry at all about the condition of the drain during the cold season, you can use special cable heating systems. They are designed to heat drainage and roofing elements, eliminating the accumulation of snow on the roof and icing of gutters and pipes. Such systems operate automatically, so you do not have to control them.
Pro Tip: Keep your St. Augustine, FL property safeguarded with our comprehensive gutter services. From installation to repairs and maintenance, our skilled team ensures your gutters function flawlessly, protecting your home from water damage effectively.
Another way to avoid snow blockages and the formation of ice crusts is to install snow retainers on the roof of the building to protect the drain from avalanches of snow and ice.
Plastic or metal drain?
As you can see, the comparison shows that maintaining plastic gutters is much easier than metal ones. And considering that they are cheaper, last longer and require virtually no maintenance, the benefits of purchasing them become obvious. So – draw your conclusions and choose!