Are Your Gutters Leaking?
Rain Gutters are important because – despite being simple and inexpensive – they protect more valuable home investments, such as the roof, foundation and windows. Caring for and cleaning rain gutters is an easy way to help protect your house from major damages.
And it’s really much easier than you might think.
Spotting a gutter leak early can protect the entire home. In this blog post, we’ve listed a few indicators that you can be on the lookout for (without hiring a roof specialist) to determine if you have a gutter leaking.
How to Identify a Leaking Gutter
There are a number of warning signs that suggest leaking gutters, even if you don’t actually see water dripping. You can do a visual inspection from the lawn to decide if the signs of a leaking gutter are present.
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 general wear and tear. Cracks in the gutter or seeing any section of them pulling away from the roof may not be causing a leak just yet, but will certainly result in issues. Getting these defects fixed is affordable than installing new gutters or any of the potential damages a leak can lead to.
Pooling Water – If water is pooling 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 house, just to be careful.
Pooling water near 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 a gutter leak is a drip, or several of them.
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 an unseen leak somewhere. These minor leaks can happen 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 gutters likely 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 get out if the fastener works its way out.
Sometimes the solution is as simple as refastening them, but it can also be necessary to cover the hole so no more water can leak from around the screw or the nail, even after it is back in place. You can buy this 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 will appear because dirt and other debris adhere to the moist surface better than it would a drier one.
Rust is the product of nearly constant moisture, and the more severe sign you’ll see after water stains. water stains can be cleaned and the gutters fixed, but if your gutters are rusty, they will definitely have 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 top of 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 moldy window sills, you might have a gutter leak.
These are all indications that water has been leaking from a place it shouldn’t be. They also are related to older 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 leak might not be the issue.
Rain Overflow – This issue is a pretty easy fix. It’s likely not a gutter leak, but a clog that should be removed. You can do this or hire a Utica gutter cleaning company – or even a general handyman – to clean out the gutters.
Animal Nests – A small bird, squirrel, chipmunk or another pest can build a nest in your gutters or downspout, which will also cause overflow. Once the nest has been there a while, you will start seeing some of the above signs of leaks – like rust or puddling – if you don’t get rid of the nest.
Trees & Plants – A tree can easily take root in your rain gutter with minimal debris present. While it may be small now, a sapling will sprout strong roots that can destroy aluminum gutters before you know it.
Professional Gutter Repair
Any of these obvious signs mean there are problems with your rain gutter that have to be addressed right away. By quickly checking your gutters and downspouts, you can tell if there’s a reason for concern.
This is where a gutter service in Utica can be of great help. They can distinguish whether gutter replacement is necessary or if you can get by with repairs to lengthen the lifetime of your home’s gutters. Sometimes, basic gutter cleaning is all that’s needed.
Some homeowners decide to do basic gutter care, like gutter cleaning, on their own. Although it is time consuming and sometimes dangerous, they are ready to complete the project 1-2 times a year to save some money.
However, anything beyond gutter cleaning is best left to professionals.
Start by calling a gutter service with excellent customer reviews like Ultimate Utica Gutters. Then let us do a full inspection to correctly determine the issue. We offer free inspections for new customers.
If there are gutter repairs to be made, or if we believe that it’s time for gutter replacement, you can count on us to get the job done right. Our gutter repair service can save you a lot of time and trouble in the long run!