Are Your Gutters Leaking?
Gutters are very important because – despite being simple and inexpensive – they protect more valuable home assets, such as the roof, foundation and windows. Caring for and cleaning gutters is an easy way to protect your house from damages.
And it’s a lot simpler than you might think.
Spotting a leaking gutter early can protect the entire house. In this blog post, we’ve provided a few signs that you can be on the lookout for (without calling a roof specialist) to determine if there is a leak in your gutters.
How to Identify Leaking Gutters
There are a number of warning signs that point to leaking gutters, even if you don’t physically see water dripping. You can do an inspection from the lawn to determine if the signs of a gutter leak are present.
Here are some things to look for:
Obvious Flaws – When gutters start to pull away from the home, 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 part of them pulling away from the roofing may not be causing a leak just yet, but will definitely create issues. Getting these defects repaired is a lot more affordable than installing new gutters or any of the possible damages a leak can lead to.
Pooling – If water is puddling around your home, it’s a sign that a gutter leak is probably present. You should also check underground pipes, water spigots and any other water source that is near your home, just in case.
Pooling water around your home can be especially 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 drips.
A drip from your rain gutter indicates a clog, but if it’s coming from the bottom and it isn’t overflowing, there is a hidden leak somewhere. These small leaks can happen if a fastener has gotten loose (see the next item below).
Visible Fasteners – Seeing nails and screws working their way out of the rain gutters means a leak will begin soon, if it hasn’t already. The area where the nail or screw fits starts to become a new area where water can escape if the fastener starts to fall out.
Sometimes the solution is as simple as refastening them, but it can also be important to cover the hole so no more water can escape from the edge of the screw or the nail, even after it is tightened again. You can purchase this type of sealant, or let a gutter repair company apply it.
Water Stains or Rust – Water leaves behind evidence, especially when it is consistently or frequently there. Darker water stains appear because dirt and other materials adhere to the moist surface better than on a dry one.
Rust is the result of nearly constant moisture, and the more extreme sign you’ll see after water stains. Most water stains can be cleaned and the gutters fixed, but if your gutters are rusty, they will definitely need to be repaired or replaced.
Unexplained Home Damage – If there hasn’t recently been a severe storm, and you haven’t had a tree limb fall on your roof, but you’re starting to see paint flaking, cracking in the foundation around the downspouts or walkways, decaying wood on your porch or deck, or moldy window sills, you might have leaking gutters.
These are all signs that water has been leaking from a place it shouldn’t. They also are related to aging building materials, so all factors should be factored in when inspecting gutters for leaks.
Other gutter issues…
Not every gutter issue leads to home repairs. If you see these common gutter issues, a gutter leak might not be the issue.
Rain Overflow – This issue is usually an easy fix. It’s probably not a leak, but a clog that has to be removed. You can do this or hire a Pittsfield gutter cleaning service – or 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 cause overflow. Once the nest has been there for a little while, you will start to see some of the above signs of a leak in a gutter – like rust or pooling – if you don’t get rid of the nest.
Trees & Plants – A tree can take root in your rain gutter with minimal debris present. While it may be little now, a tree sapling will sprout strong roots that can destroy aluminum gutters before you know it.
Professional Gutter Repair
Any of these visible signs indicate there are issues with your rain gutter that must be addressed right away. By checking your gutters and downspouts, you can tell if there’s a cause for concern.
This is where a professional gutter service in Pittsfield can be helpful. They can distinguish if gutter replacement is required or if you can get by with repairs to lengthen the lifetime of your home’s gutters. Sometimes, basic gutter cleaning is the only thing that’s needed.
Some homeowners choose to do basic gutter care, like gutter cleaning, on their own. Although it it can be time consuming and dangerous, they are eager to complete the project 1-2 times each year to save a little money.
However, any job beyond gutter cleaning is best left to the professionals.
Start by hiring a gutter service with excellent customer reviews like Superior Gutter Cleaning. Then let us do a full inspection to accurately diagnose the issue. We offer free inspections for potential customers.
If there are any repairs to be made, or if we think 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!