The Environmental Impact of Gutter Systems: What You Need to Know
While we may not all be super environmentally conscious, we all care about our and our loved ones’ health which is partly an effect of our planet. After recently celebrating Earth Day, it’s hard not to feel inspired to do all you can to protect our planet. Whether it be limiting the use of plastic, driving an electric vehicle, starting your own compost, or recycling, protecting our planet is crucial for its future.
If you love planet Earth and want to do everything you can to protect it, you’re probably cautious about the things you bring inside your home and how you care for your home’s exterior. But did you know that your gutter system can negatively impact the environment? Keep reading everything you need to know about the environmental impact of gutter systems so you can be even more environmentally conscious the next time you need to replace old or install new gutters.
5 Environmental Benefits of an Effective Gutter System
Gutter systems do more than keep our homes and roofs drier. Below are some environmental benefits of an effective gutter system:
1. Rainwater Harvesting
Have you ever harvested rain before? If not, it’s a great idea to get started during Central Virginia’s rainy season and benefit from the excess rainfall! Rainwater harvesting offers many benefits, one of the top being that it reduces water use and uses a natural resource. Homeowners often collect rainwater in collection barrels or by installing a rainwater harvesting system, some with filtration systems.
No matter how you harvest rainwater, it offers several benefits. For one, you’re protecting the environment by using the natural resource of rainwater to reuse over and over. State regulations for rainwater harvesting in Virginia are regulated through the state’s plumbing code and state legislature. It is allowed in Lynchburg and surrounding cities. Homeowners in Lynchburg also qualify for a tax break, offering additional benefits.
2. Prevents Soil Erosion
No one wants to deal with soil erosion. A lawn with soil erosion is an eyesore, giving the home an unkempt feel and deters potential homebuyers, not to mention upsetting neighbors. Homes without efficient gutter systems can experience faulty gutters that leak and overflow, causing water to pour over the sides of the house and collect near the foundation.
Eventually, the top two layers of soil—humus and topsoil—would be washed away. Grass and plants can’t grow without topsoil. Therefore, effective gutters have an environmental impact on preventing soil erosion when they effectively collect and carry water away from the home’s foundation.
3. Cleaner Water
A gutter system helps disperse water away from a home’s foundation, often with downspouts that divert the water down the driveway or in the yard far away from the foundation. If an inefficient gutter system was just allowing water to spill over the sides of the gutter, lawns would flood and force excess water downward, making its way into our storm drains and bodies of water like lakes and streams. Effective gutter systems make water cleaner for children to play in, the whole family to swim in, and for storing boats and aquatic equipment.
4. Protects Wildlife
As previously mentioned, gutters that effectively divert water from the home’s foundation lead to cleaner water in our lakes and streams. In return, wildlife is kept safer with fewer pollutants in the water.
The Environmental Impact of Gutter Materials
There are several materials to choose from when installing gutters: aluminum, copper, vinyl, and steel. All these materials offer varying levels of protection from drainage issues and all have their environmental impact. Below are the environmental impacts of the most common gutter materials:
Aluminum
Heavy-duty aluminum gutters are the best choice for homeowners in and around Lynchburg thanks to the durable material, longer lifespan, its ability to withstand severe weather, ideal for humid and high precipitation climates like Central Virginia, and its corrosion resistance. Aluminum is a great gutter material for the environmentally conscious since it’s a non-toxic material that doesn’t leave toxic waste behind. If aluminum deteriorates over time, it doesn’t harm the environment including our lakes, streams, and wildlife.
Copper
Copper gutters are a stunning option for older, Victorian-style homes. Though beautiful and durable, copper gutters require regular maintenance to protect the metal so it doesn’t oxidize. A natural material, copper is another good choice for environmentally conscious homeowners. It is recyclable and has no harmful environmental impacts.
Steel
One of the more expensive options, steel gutters are very durable and can withstand severe weather. However, if not made from stainless steel with a coating, steel gutters will deteriorate over time. Though it’s a manmade material, steel is a great option for the environment since steel is made with recyclable materials, leaving no negative environmental impacts.
Vinyl
Vinyl/PVC gutters are made from a synthetic material. Humidity, heavy snow, and excess rain are too much for vinyl gutters to withstand. Because vinyl gutters are lightweight and aren’t made from a durable material, they’ll often sag or come apart at the seams with the weight of heavy rainstorms, snowstorms, and strong winds. PVC gutters are not for the environmentally conscious homeowner; the material is recyclable but is a slow process that releases chlorine and other harmful chemicals.
Eco-Friendly, Heavy-Duty Aluminum Gutter Solutions from K-Guard / One Stop Home Improvement Shop
If you want to install eco-friendly heavy-duty aluminum gutters that eliminate the need to perform gutter maintenance, consider installing seamless gutters from K-Guard / One Stop Home Improvement Shop. Our heavy-duty aluminum gutters and downspouts are oversized to allow for more rainfall and are built to withstand the most severe weather. Our Xtreme Mesh Gutter Guard is made from surgical-grade stainless steel, a durable material that will resist corrosion, even in Lynchburg’s humid and rainy climate.
The K-Guard System is a durable, complete system with multiple components that keep debris like leaves and pine needles out so water can flush through the system quickly. With its innovative curved hood and seamless design, K-Guard prevents all debris from entering the gutters, ensuring no clogs can form.
If your home needs gutters installed or you need to replace your existing gutters with an environmentally friendly option and want to wave goodbye to gutter cleaning, consider installing seamless gutters and guards or the K-Guard System from K-Guard / One Stop Home Improvement Shop.
We’ve been installing and repairing gutter systems for decades with thousands of happy customers in Lynchburg and surrounding areas. We can help with all your home improvement needs, whether you need help with an insurance claim or a quote for installing a new roof or gutter system. We’re here to help every step of the way throughout the entire process. Contact us today for a free estimate!
