Are Your Gutters Leaking?
Rain Gutters are very important because – although they are simple and relatively inexpensive – they protect valuable home components, like the roof, foundation and windows. Taking care of and cleaning gutters is an easy way to prevent your home from damages.
And it’s much easier than you probably think.
Spotting a leak in your gutters early can protect an 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 see if there is a leak in your gutters.
How to Identify a Gutter Leak
There are a lot of signs that suggest a gutter leak, even if you don’t actually notice water dripping. You can do an inspection from the safety of your lawn to determine if the signs of a leaking gutter are present.
Here are some things to keep an eye out for:
Visible Flaws – When gutters start to pull away from the roof, it causes stress on the fasteners. Cracks can be the result of faulty installation, poor quality materials, damage or general wear and tear. Cracks in the gutter or seeing any section of them pulling away from the house might not be causing a leak just yet, but will ultimately lead to problems. Having these defects fixed is affordable than replacing gutters or any of the damages a leak can cause.
Pooling – If rain is puddling around your home, it’s a sign that a gutter leak is probably present. But you should also check pipes, water spigots and any other water source that is close to your home, just in case.
Pooling water around your home can be especially harmful for the foundation. It’s also bad for landscaping and could cause windows to leak.
Dripping – One of the most visible signs of gutter leaks is a drip, or several of them.
A drip coming from your 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 somewhere. These minor leaks can happen if a fastener has gotten loose (see the next item on our list).
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 area where the nail or screw fits starts to become a new area where water can get out if the fastener starts to fall out.
Sometimes the solution is as easy as tightening them, but it might also be necessary to cover the hole so no water can escape from the edge of the screw or the nail, even after it is back in place. You can buy this type of sealant, or let a gutter repair company apply it.
Water Stains or Rust – Water leaves behind evidence, especially if it is consistently or frequently present. Darker water stains appear because dirt and other debris adhere to the moist surface better than on a drier one.
Rust is the result of nearly constant moisture, and the more severe sign you’ll see after you see water stains. Most water stains on gutters can be cleaned and the gutters repaired, but if gutters are rusty, they definitely need to be repaired or be 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, decaying wood on your patio or deck, or moldy window sills, you may have leaking gutters.
These are all indications that water has been leaking from somewhere it shouldn’t. They also are related to older building materials, so all factors should be taken into account when inspecting gutters for leaks.
Other gutter issues…
Not all gutter issues lead to major repairs. If you see these common gutter issues, a gutter leak may not be the issue.
Rain Overflow – This issue is a pretty simple fix. It’s probably not a leak, but a clog that should be cleaned out. You can do this or hire a Roseville gutter cleaning company – even a general handyman – to clean them out.
Animal Nests – A bird, squirrel, chipmunk can quickly build a nest in your gutters or downspout, which can cause overflow. Once the nest has been there awhile, you will start seeing 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 take root in your rain gutter with small amounts of debris present. While it may be small now, a sapling will sprout really strong roots that can damage aluminum gutters before you know it.
Professional Gutter Repair
Any of these obvious signs mean there are problems with your gutter that must be addressed immediately. By checking your gutters and downspouts, you can see if there’s a reason for concern.
This is where a professional gutter service in Roseville can be of great help. They can distinguish if gutter replacement is necessary or if you can get by with repairs to extend the life of your gutters. Sometimes, gutter cleaning is all that’s needed.
Homeowners can choose to do basic gutter care, like gutter cleaning, on their own. Although it is time consuming and somewhat dangerous, they are eager to complete the project 1-2 times each year to save some money.
However, any job beyond gutter cleaning is best left to the professionals.
Start by calling a gutter service with excellent customer reviews like Roseville Gutter Service. Then let us do an inspection to accurately determine 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 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!