Are Your Gutters Leaking?
Gutters are very important because – although they are simple and relatively inexpensive – they protect more valuable home assets, like the roof, foundation and windows. Maintaining and cleaning gutters is an easy way to help protect your house from damages.
And it’s really a lot simpler than you might think.
Finding a leaking gutter early can protect the entire house. In this blog post, we’ve provided a few indicators that you can look for (without hiring a roofer) to see if your gutters may be leaking.
How to Identify a Gutter Leak
There are many signs that suggest a leaking gutter, even if you don’t actually notice water dripping. You can do a visual inspection from the safety of your ground to decide if the signs of a gutter leak are present.
Here are some things to keep an eye out for:
Obvious Flaws – When the gutters pull away from the house, it stresses the fasteners. Cracks can be the result of faulty installation, poor quality materials, storm damage or age. Cracks in the gutter channel or seeing any section of them pulling away from the roof may not cause a leak just yet, but will definitely lead to problems. Getting these defects fixed is a lot more affordable than replacing gutters or any of the possible damages a leak can cause.
Pooling – If water is pooling around your house, it’s a sign that a gutter leak is present. But you should also check underground pipes, water spigots and any water source that is near your house, just to be careful.
Pooling water by your home can be really bad for the foundation. It’s also bad for landscaping and could cause windows to leak.
Drips – One of the most obvious signs of gutter leaks is a drip, or several of them.
A drip from your gutter could indicate a clog, but if it’s coming from the bottom and it isn’t a big overflow, there is an unseen leak. These minor leaks can occur if a fastener has become loose (see the next item on our list).
Visible Fasteners – Seeing nails and screws working their way out of the gutters likely means a leak will start soon, if it hasn’t already. The area where the nail or screw fits becomes a new area where water can get out if the fastener works its way out.
Sometimes the solution is as simple as tightening them, but it might also be important to cover the hole so no more water can leak from the edge of the screw or nail, even after it is back in place. You can purchase this sealant, or let a gutter repair company apply it.
Water Stains or Rust – Moisture leaves evidence behind, especially if it is consistently or frequently there. Darker water stains will appear because dirt and other debris adhere to the wet surface better than on a drier one.
Rust is the product of constant moisture, and the more severe sign you’ll see after you see water stains. water stains on gutters can be cleaned away and the gutters can be fixed, but if the gutters are rusty, they will definitely need to be repaired or be replaced.
Unexplained Home Damage – If there hasn’t been a severe storm, and you haven’t had a tree limb fall on your roof, but you’re beginning to see paint flaking, cracking in the foundation or walkways, rotting wood on your porch or deck, or moldy window sills, you could have leaking gutters.
These are all signs that water has been leaking from a place it shouldn’t be. They also are related to older building materials, so all of these factors need to be taken into account when inspecting gutters for leaks.
Other gutter issues…
Not every gutter issue leads to home repairs. If you see these common gutter issues, a leak might not be the issue.
Rain Overflow – This one is a pretty easy fix. It’s likely not a gutter leak, but a clog that should be removed. You can do this yourself or hire a Frederick gutter cleaning service – or even a general handyman – to clean them out.
Animal Nests – A small bird, squirrel, chipmunk or other pest can quickly build a nest in your rain gutters or downspout, which will also cause overflow. Once the nest has been there awhile, you will start seeing some of the above signs of a leak in a gutter – like rust or pooling – if you don’t get rid of it.
Trees & Plants – A tree can easily take root in your gutter with little debris present. While it may be small now, a tree sapling will sprout really strong roots that can damage aluminum gutters before you know it.
Professional Gutter Repair
Any of these obvious signs mean there are problems with your rain gutter that must be addressed right away. By checking all of your gutters and downspouts, you can tell if there’s a cause for concern.
This is where a gutter service in Frederick can be helpful. They can determine if gutter replacement is required or if you can get by with repairs to lengthen the life of your home’s gutters. Sometimes, basic gutter cleaning is the only thing that’s needed.
Homeowners can decide to do basic gutter care and maintenance, like gutter cleaning, themselves. Although it it can be time consuming and dangerous, they are eager to take on the project 1-2 times a year to save a little money.
However, any job beyond simple gutter cleaning is best left to the professionals.
Start by calling a gutter service with good customer reviews like Gutter & Exterior Experts. Then let us do a full inspection to correctly diagnose the problem. We offer free inspections for potential customers.
If there are any gutter repairs to be made, or if we feel that it’s time for gutter replacement, you can count on us to get the job done. Our gutter repair service can save you a lot of time and trouble in the long run!