Are Your Gutters Leaking?
Gutters are really important because – despite being simple and relatively inexpensive – they protect valuable home investments, like the roof, foundation and windows. Caring for and cleaning rain gutters is an easy way to prevent your home from major damages.
And it’s much simpler than you might think.
Spotting a gutter leak early can protect the entire house. Here, we’ve listed a few indicators that you can look for (without hiring a roof specialist) to see if there is a leak in your gutters.
How to Identify a Leaking Gutter
There are a number of warning signs that suggest a gutter leak, even if you don’t see water dripping. You can do an inspection from the ground to determine if the signs of a leaking gutter are present.
Here’s what to look for:
Obvious Flaws – When the gutters pull away from the home, it stresses the connections. Cracks can be the result of faulty installation, poor quality materials, storm damage or general wear and tear. Cracks in the gutter channel or seeing any part of them pulling away from the roof might not cause a leak just yet, but will ultimately lead to issues. Getting these defects fixed is much more affordable than installing new gutters or any of the damages a leak can cause.
Pooling Water – If water is puddling around your home, it’s a possible sign that a gutter leak is probably present. But you should also check pipes, water spigots and any water source that is near your home, just in case.
Pooling water around your home can be really bad for the foundation. It’s also bad for landscaping and might cause your windows to leak.
Dripping – One of the most visible signs of a gutter leak is a drip, or several of them.
A drip from your gutter indicates a clog, but if it’s coming from the bottom and it isn’t overflowing, there is a hidden leak. These small leaks will occur if a fastener has become loose (see the next item below).
Visible Fasteners – Seeing nails and screws wiggling their way out of the gutters likely means a leak will start soon, if it hasn’t already. The hole where the nail or screw fits in starts to become a new area where water can get out if the fastener starts to fall out.
Sometimes the solution is as simple as refastening them, but it could also be important to cover the hole so no water can escape from around the screw or 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 behind evidence, especially when it is constantly or frequently present. Darker water stains appear because dirt and other debris adhere to the moist surface better than on 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 fixed, but if your gutters are rusty, they definitely need to be repaired or be replaced.
Unexplained Home Damage – If there hasn’t recently been a severe storm, and you haven’t had a limb fall on top of your roof, but you’re beginning to notice paint flaking, cracking in the foundation around the downspouts or walkways, rotting wood on your porch or deck, or mold on your window sills, you could have leaking gutters.
These are all indications that water has been leaking from somewhere it shouldn’t be. They also go hand in hand with older building materials, so all factors should be considered when inspecting gutters for leaks.
Other gutter issues…
Not every gutter issue leads to home repairs. If you see these gutter issues, a leak may not be the problem.
Rain Overflow – This issue is usually an easy fix. It’s likely not a leak, but a clog that should be cleaned out. You can do this yourself or hire a Kent gutter cleaning service – or even a general handyman – to clean out the gutters.
Animal Nests – A bird, squirrel, chipmunk can build a nest in your gutters or in your downspout, which will cause overflow. Once the nest has been there a 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 it.
Trees & Plants – A tree can easily take root in your rain gutter with little debris present. While it may be small now, a tree sapling will sprout really 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 gutter service in Kent can be of great help. They can determine 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 the only thing that’s needed.
Homeowners can choose to do basic gutter care, such as gutter cleaning, on their own. Although it is time consuming and dangerous, they are eager to complete the project a couple of times a year to save a little money.
However, any job beyond basic gutter cleaning should be left to the professionals.
Start by hiring a gutter specialist with good customer reviews like Kent Gutter Cleaning. Then let us do a full 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 to install new gutters, 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!