Are Your Gutters Leaking?
Gutters are very important because – although they are simple and relatively inexpensive – they protect valuable home investments, such as the roof, foundation and windows. Taking care of and cleaning gutters is an easy way to prevent your home from damages.
And it’s really a lot simpler than you probably think.
Spotting a leaking gutter early can protect the entire home. Here, we’ve listed a few signs that you can be on the lookout for (without hiring a roof specialist) to determine if there is a leak in your gutters.
How to Identify a Gutter Leak
There are a lot of warning signs that point to a leaking gutter, even if you don’t actually notice water dripping. You can do an inspection from the lawn to determine if the signs of a gutter leak are there.
Here are some things to keep an eye out for:
Obvious Flaws – When the gutters pull away from the home, it causes stress on the fasteners. Cracks can be the result of faulty installation, poor quality materials, damage or age. Cracks in the gutter channel or seeing any section of them pulling away from the home may not be causing a leak just yet, but will certainly create problems. Having these defects fixed is affordable than gutter replacement or any of the damages a leak can lead to.
Pooling Water – If rain is puddling around your house, 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 house, just to be careful.
Pooling water around your home can be especially bad for the foundation. It’s also bad for landscaping and can cause windows to leak.
Dripping – One of the most visible signs of a gutter leak is a drip, or several drips.
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 somewhere. These minor leaks will 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 means a leak is going to begin 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 simple as tightening them, but it may also be important to seal the hole so no water can leak from the edge of the screw or nail, even after it is back in place. You can purchase this sealant, or let a gutter repair company put it on.
Water Stains or Rust – Moisture leaves evidence behind, especially when it is consistently or frequently present. Dark water stains appear because dirt and other organic debris stick to the wet surface better than on a drier one.
Rust is the product of nearly constant moisture, and the more severe sign you’ll notice after water stains. water stains on gutters can be cleaned away and the gutters fixed, but if gutters are rusty, they will definitely have to be repaired or be replaced.
Unexplained Home Damage – If there hasn’t been a storm, and you haven’t had a tree limb fall on top of your roof, but you’re starting to see paint flaking, cracking in the foundation around the downspouts or walkways, decaying wood on your patio or deck, or moldy window sills, you may have a gutter leak.
These are all signs that water has been leaking from a place it shouldn’t be. They also go hand in hand with aging building materials, so all factors need to be factored in when inspecting gutters for leaks.
Other gutter issues…
Not every gutter issue leads to home repairs. If you see these 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 removed. You can do this yourself or hire a Troy gutter cleaning company – 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 awhile, you will start seeing some of the above signs of leaks – like rust or puddling – if you don’t get rid of it.
Trees & Plants – A tree can take root in your rain gutter with minimal debris present. While it may be small now, a tree sapling will sprout really strong roots that can destroy aluminum gutters before you know it.
Professional Gutter Repair
Any of these obvious signs indicate there are issues with your 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 professional gutter service in Troy can be helpful. They can determine whether gutter replacement is necessary or if you can get by with repairs to lengthen the lifetime of your gutters. Sometimes, gutter cleaning is all that’s needed.
Some homeowners choose to do simple gutter care, like gutter cleaning, on their own. Although it it can be time consuming and sometimes dangerous, they are eager to take on the chore a couple of times each year to save some money.
However, anything beyond gutter cleaning is best left to the professionals.
Start by finding a gutter service with excellent customer reviews like TruClean Troy Gutters. Then let us do a full inspection to accurately determine the issue. We offer free inspections for new customers.
If there are any gutter repairs to be made, or if we believe that it’s time for gutter replacement, you can trust us to get the job done right. Our gutter repair service can save you a lot of time and trouble in the long run!