Are Your Gutters Leaking?
Gutters are really important because – despite being simple and inexpensive – they protect more valuable home assets, such as the roof, foundation and windows. Taking care of and cleaning gutters is an easy way to help prevent your house from major damages.
And it’s really a lot simpler than you might think.
Spotting a gutter leak early can protect the entire house. In this blog post, we’ve listed a few signs that you can be on the lookout for (without hiring a roof specialist) to see if your gutters may be leaking.
How to Identify a Gutter Leak
There are several signs that point to a gutter leak, even if you don’t actually notice water dripping. You can do an inspection from the ground to decide if the signs of a gutter leak are there.
Here’s what to keep an eye out for:
Visible Flaws – When the gutters pull away from the roof, it causes stress on the connectors. Cracks can be caused by faulty installation, low quality materials, damage or general wear and tear. Cracks in the gutter or seeing any section of them pulling away from the roof may not cause a leak yet, but will definitely result in issues. Getting these defects fixed is affordable than replacing gutters or any of the possible damages a leak can cause.
Pooling – If rain is pooling around your home, it’s a possible sign that a gutter leak is present. But you should also check pipes, water spigots and any other water source that is near your house, just to be sure.
Pooling water around your home can be very damaging for the foundation. It’s also bad for landscaping and can cause your windows to leak.
Drips – One of the most obvious signs of a gutter leak is a drip, or several of them.
A drip from your rain gutter is likely a clog, but if it’s coming from the bottom of the gutter and it isn’t overflowing, there is a hidden leak. These tiny leaks can occur if a fastener has become loose (see the next item on our list).
Visible Fasteners – Finding nails and screws working their way out of the rain 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 get out if the fastener works its way out.
Sometimes the solution is as easy as refastening them, but it might also be necessary to seal the hole so no more water can leak from around the screw or the nail, even after it is tightened again. You can purchase this type of sealant, or let a gutter repair company put it on.
Water Stains or Rust – Moisture leaves evidence behind, especially if it is consistently or frequently there. Dark water stains appear because dirt and other organic debris stick to the moist surface better than on a drier one.
Rust is the result of constant moisture, and the more severe sign you’ll see after water stains. Most water stains can be cleaned away and the gutters can be repaired, but if gutters are rusty, they definitely need to be repaired or replaced.
Unexplained Home Damage – If there hasn’t 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 or walkways, rotting wood on your porch or deck, or mold on your window sills, you may have leaking gutters.
These are all indications that water has been leaking from a place it shouldn’t. 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 may not be the issue.
Rain Overflow – This issue is typically an easy fix. It’s probably not a gutter leak, but a clog that should be removed. You can do this or hire a Blaine gutter cleaning company – even a general handyman – to clean out the gutters.
Animal Nests – A small bird, squirrel, chipmunk or other pest can quickly build a nest in your gutters or downspout, which will also cause overflow. Once the nest has been there for a little while, you will start to see some of the above signs of leaks – like rust or pooling – if you don’t get rid of the nest.
Trees & Plants – A tree can easily take root in your rain gutter with small amounts of debris present. While it may be small now, a sapling will sprout strong roots that can damage aluminum gutters before you know it.
Professional Gutter Repair
Any of these obvious signs indicate there are problems with your rain gutter that must be addressed right away. By checking all of your gutters and downspouts, you can see if there’s a reason for concern.
This is where a gutter service in Blaine can be of great help. They can distinguish if gutter replacement is required or if you can get by with repairs to extend the life of your home’s gutters. Sometimes, basic gutter cleaning is all that’s needed.
Some homeowners choose to do simple gutter care, such as gutter cleaning, on their own. Although it it can be time consuming and dangerous, they are eager to take on the chore 1-2 times a year to save a little money.
However, anything beyond simple gutter cleaning is best left to the professionals.
Start by calling a gutter service with good customer reviews like Blaine Gutters. Then let us do an inspection to correctly diagnose the issue. We provide free inspections for new 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 right. Our gutter repair service will save you a lot of time and trouble in the long run!