Are Your Gutters Leaking?
Rain Gutters are so important because – while they are simple and inexpensive – they protect more valuable home investments, 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 much simpler than you might think.
Spotting a leaking gutter early can protect your entire house. Below, we’ve listed a few signs that you can be on the lookout for (without hiring a roofer) to determine if your gutters may be leaking.
How to Identify a Gutter Leak
There are a lot of warning signs that point to leaking gutters, even if you don’t physically notice water dripping. You can do an inspection from the safety of your ground to decide if the signs of a leaking gutter are there.
Here are some things to look for:
Obvious Flaws – When gutters begin to pull away from the roof, it stresses the connections. Cracks can be the result of poor installation, low quality materials, storm damage or age. Cracks in the gutter channel or seeing any section of them pulling away from the roofing might not be causing a leak just yet, but will definitely result in issues. Getting these defects fixed is more affordable than replacing gutters or any of the possible damages a leak can cause.
Pooling Water – If rain is puddling around your house, it’s a possible sign that a gutter leak is probably present. You should also check pipes, water spigots and any other water source that is close to your home, just to be careful.
Pooling water near your home can be harmful for the foundation. It’s also bad for landscaping and could cause your windows to leak.
Dripping – One of the most obvious signs of a leaking gutter is a drip, or several drips.
A drip from your gutter indicates a clog, but if it’s coming from the bottom of the gutter and it isn’t overflowing, there is an unseen leak. These minor leaks will happen if a fastener has become loose (see the next item below).
Visible Fasteners – Finding nails and screws working their way out of the gutters likely means a leak is going to begin soon, if it hasn’t already. The area where the nail or screw fits in becomes a new area where water can escape if the fastener works its way out.
Sometimes the answer is as simple as tightening them, but it might also be necessary to cover the hole so no more water can leak from the edge of the screw or the nail, even after it is tightened again. You can buy this type of sealant, or let a gutter repair company apply it.
Water Stains or Rust – Moisture leaves behind evidence, especially if it is consistently or frequently there. Dark water stains will appear because dirt and other materials adhere to the moist surface better than on a drier one.
Rust is the product of constant moisture, and the more extreme sign you’ll see after water stains. Most water stains on gutters can be cleaned away and the gutters fixed, but if your gutters are rusty, they definitely have to be repaired or replaced.
Unexplained Home Damage – If there hasn’t recently been a storm, and you haven’t had a limb fall on your roof, but you’re beginning to see paint flaking, cracking in the foundation around the downspouts or walkways, decaying wood on your porch or deck, or mold on your window sills, you may have a gutter leak.
These are all signs that water has been leaking from somewhere it shouldn’t be. They also are related to aging building materials, so all factors should be taken into account when inspecting gutters for leaks.
Other gutter issues…
Not all gutter issues lead to home repairs. If you see these common gutter issues, a leak might not be the problem.
Rain Overflow – This one is a pretty simple fix. It’s likely not a leak, but a clog that has to be cleaned out. You can do this yourself or hire a Lakeville gutter cleaning service – even a general handyman – to clean out the gutters.
Animal Nests – A small bird, squirrel, chipmunk or other pest can build a nest in your rain gutters or in your downspout, which will cause overflow. Once the nest has been there awhile, you will start seeing some of the above signs of leaks – like rust or puddling – if you don’t get rid of it.
Trees & Plants – A tree can easily take root in your gutter with minimal debris present. While it may be little now, a tree sapling will sprout really strong roots that can damage aluminum gutters before you even know it.
Professional Gutter Repair
Any of these visible signs indicate there are problems with your gutter that need to be addressed immediately. By quickly checking your gutters and downspouts, you can see if there’s a reason for concern.
This is where a professional gutter service in Lakeville can be helpful. They can distinguish whether gutter replacement is required or if you can get by with repairs to extend the life of your gutters. Sometimes, basic gutter cleaning is all that’s needed.
Some homeowners choose to do simple gutter care, like gutter cleaning, themselves. Although it is time consuming and dangerous, they are willing to take on the project a couple of times a year to save some money.
However, anything beyond simple gutter cleaning is best left to the professionals.
Start by finding a gutter service with good customer reviews like Lakeville Gutter Service. Then let us do an inspection to correctly determine the problem. We offer free inspections for potential customers.
If there are repairs to be made, or if we feel that it’s time to install new gutters, you can trust us to get the job done right. Our gutter repair service will save you a lot of time and trouble in the long run!