5 Ways to Reduce Heat Buckling

Rain gutters and other exterior features are subjected to a range of temperatures throughout the year. From freezing cold winters to blistering hot summers, these yearly shifts can be big trouble for homeowners due to the effects of thermal expansion.

Thermal Expansion

Thermal Expansion is the tendency for a material to expand and contract when exposed to changes in temperature. The bigger the temperature change is, the more a material will expand or contract.

A 50 foot aluminum rain gutter subjected to a 50°F change in temperature can expand or contract almost 0.5 inches. While that might not sound like much, it is enough to cause some serious problems.

When rain gutter expands, the hangers try to keep it in place. The conflicting forces distort the gutter, causing it to crack and buckle (FIG 1). Thermal Expansion is a natural property of metals and may occur regardless of manufacturer. In the case of rain gutters, the thickness of the gutter coil does not have any effect on the severity of thermal expansion. While it can’t be prevented altogether, it is easy to reduce your risk.

Heat Buckling on Rain Gutters

FIG 1: HEAT BUCKLING ON RAIN GUTTERS

What Can Be Done

Through decades of experience, Senox® has determined that the following precautions should be taken to reduce the possibility of heat buckling.

1: Gutter Machine Adjustment
Gutter machines need to be regularly adjusted to ensure that the gutter that they run out is straight with no curving or rippling.

2: Run Out Stands
When running gutter out of a machine it should be supported with run out stands (FIG 2) with the first stand 8 feet from the machine, then a stand every 15 feet to keep the gutter level. This helps prevent it from stretching or deforming.

3: Length of Gutter Run
It is recommended that a single run of gutter should not be longer than 50 feet. For jobs that require longer runs consider using an expansion joint (FIG 2), or two shorter runs with ends caps butted together and joined by a piece of aluminum (FIG 2).

4: Temperature
Installing at extreme hot or cold temperatures will increase the chance of heat buckling. The optimal temperature for installing gutter is 60-90°F.

5: Hangers
When using internal hangers, do not screw the lip of the rain gutter to the hook of the hanger. Adding a screw to the lip and hook increases the risk that the rain gutter will rip or tear during expansion.

By following these simple suggestions you can reduce the chance of heat buckling, helping your gutters look like new for as long as possible.

Heat Buckling Solutions

FIG 2: (LEFT TO RIGHT) RUN OUT STAND, EXPANSION JOINT, AND TWO RUNS BUTTED TOGETHER

 

Read More

Thermal Expansion – Wikipedia

Thermal Properties of Metals, Conductivity, Thermal Expansion, Specific Heat – Engineers Edge

Shrinkage – WWPA

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