Are Your Gutters Leaking?
Gutters are really important because – although they are simple and relatively inexpensive – they protect more valuable home components, like the roof, foundation and windows. Caring for and cleaning gutters is an easy way to help protect your house from major damages.
And it’s much easier than you might think.
Identifying a leaking gutter early can protect your entire house. Below, we’ve provided a few indicators 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 Leaking Gutter
There are a number of signs that point to a gutter leak, even if you don’t actually see water dripping. You can do an inspection from the safety of your lawn to decide if the signs of a leaking gutter are there.
Here are some things to keep an eye out for:
Visible Flaws – When the gutters pull away from the house, it stresses the connections. Cracks can be caused by poor installation, low quality materials, damage or general wear and tear. Cracks in the gutter channel or seeing any part of them pulling away from the home might not be causing a leak yet, but these things will definitely result in issues. Having these defects fixed is affordable than replacing gutters or any of the possible damages a leak can lead to.
Pooling Water – If rain is pooling around your home, it’s a sign that a gutter leak is probably present. You should also check pipes, water spigots and any water source that is close to your home, just in case.
Pooling water around your home can be really bad for the foundation. It’s also bad for landscaping and could cause your windows to leak.
Drips – One of the most obvious signs of a leaking gutter is a drip, or several drips.
A drip from your gutter could indicate a clog, but if it’s coming from the bottom of the gutter and it isn’t overflowing, there is a hidden leak somewhere. These minor leaks will occur if a fastener has become loose (see the next item on our list).
Visible Fasteners – Seeing nails and screws wiggling their way out of the gutters means a leak is going to start soon, if it hasn’t already. The hole where the nail or screw fits in becomes a new area where water can escape if the fastener starts to fall out.
Sometimes the solution is as easy as refastening them, but it could also be necessary to cover the hole so no more water can leak from the edge of the screw or nail, even after it is tightened again. You can buy this sealant, or let a gutter repair company apply it.
Water Stains or Rust – Moisture leaves behind evidence, especially if it is consistently or frequently present. Dark water stains will appear because dirt and other materials adhere to the wet surface better than it would a dry one.
Rust is the result of nearly constant moisture, and the more severe sign you’ll notice after you see water stains. water stains on gutters can be cleaned and the gutters can be repaired, but if the gutters are rusty, they definitely need to be repaired or replaced.
Unexplained Home Damage – If there hasn’t been a severe storm, and you haven’t had a limb fall on your roof, but you’re starting to notice paint flaking, cracking in the foundation around the downspouts or walkways, rotting wood on your patio or deck, or mold on your window sills, you might have leaking gutters.
These are all indications that water has been leaking from somewhere it shouldn’t. They also go hand in hand with aging building materials, so all factors should be factored in when inspecting gutters for leaks.
Other gutter issues…
Not all gutter issues lead to home repairs. If you see these common gutter issues, a gutter leak may not be the problem.
Rain Overflow – This issue is a pretty easy fix. It’s likely not a gutter leak, but a clog that should be cleaned out. You can do this or hire a Kentwood gutter cleaning service – or even a general handyman – to clean out the gutters.
Animal Nests – A small bird, squirrel, chipmunk can build a nest in your gutters or downspout, which will cause overflow. Once the nest has been there awhile, 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 it.
Trees & Plants – A tree can 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 easy-to-see signs mean there are problems with your rain gutter that have to be addressed right away. By quickly checking all of your gutters and downspouts, you can tell if there’s a reason for concern.
This is where a professional gutter service in Kentwood can be of great help. They can distinguish if gutter replacement is required or if you can get by with repairs to lengthen the life of your home’s gutters. Sometimes, gutter cleaning is all that’s needed.
Homeowners can decide to do basic gutter care and maintenance, such as gutter cleaning, on their own. Although it it can be time consuming and sometimes dangerous, they are willing to complete the project 1-2 times a year to save some money.
However, any job beyond gutter cleaning should be left to the professionals.
Start by hiring a gutter service with excellent customer reviews like Good Clean Gutters. Then let us do a full inspection to correctly determine the issue. We provide 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 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!