Are Your Gutters Leaking?
Gutters are important because – despite being simple and relatively inexpensive – they protect valuable home investments, such as the roof, foundation and windows. Maintaining and cleaning gutters is an easy way to prevent your home from major damages.
And it’s much simpler than you probably think.
Identifying a gutter leak early can protect your entire home. Below, we’ve provided a few signs that you can look for (without hiring a roof specialist) to determine if your gutters are leaking.
How to Identify a Gutter Leak
There are many warning signs that suggest a leaking gutter, even if you don’t actually notice water dripping. You can do a visual inspection from the safety of your lawn to determine if the signs of a leaking gutter are present.
Here are some things to look for:
Visible Flaws – When gutters start to pull away from the roof, it causes stress on the connectors. Cracks can be the result of poor installation, poor quality materials, storm 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 these things will definitely cause problems. Getting these defects fixed is affordable than replacing gutters or any of the potential damages a leak can lead to.
Pooling Water – If rain is pooling around your house, it’s a possible sign that a gutter leak is present. You should also check pipes, water spigots and any water source that is close to your home, just in case.
Pooling water near your house can be damaging for the foundation. It’s also bad for landscaping and could cause your windows to leak.
Dripping – One of the most visible signs of gutter leaks 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 tiny leaks will happen if a fastener has become loose (see the next item on our list).
Visible Fasteners – Finding nails and screws wiggling their way out of the rain gutters likely means a leak will start soon, if it hasn’t already. The hole where the nail or screw fits 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 can also be necessary to cover the hole so no more water can escape from around the screw or the nail, even after it is tightened again. You can buy this type of sealant, or let a gutter repair company put it on.
Water Stains or Rust – Moisture leaves evidence behind, especially if it is constantly or frequently there. Dark water stains will appear because dirt and other materials adhere to the wet surface better than on a drier one.
Rust is the product of nearly constant moisture, and the more extreme sign you’ll notice after you see water stains. water stains can be cleaned and the gutters can be repaired, but if your gutters are rusty, they will definitely need to be repaired or replaced.
Unexplained Home Damage – If there hasn’t recently been a storm, and you haven’t had a limb fall on top of your roof, but you’re starting to notice paint flaking, cracking in the foundation or walkways, rotting wood on your porch or deck, or mold on your window sills, you could have a gutter leak.
These are all indications that water has been leaking from a place it shouldn’t. They also are related to older building materials, so all factors should be factored in when inspecting gutters for leaks.
Other gutter issues…
Not every gutter issue leads to home repairs. If you see these common 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 removed. You can do this or hire a Canton gutter cleaning service – or even a general handyman – to clean out the gutters.
Animal Nests – A bird, squirrel, chipmunk or other pest can build a nest in your gutters or downspout, which will cause overflow. Once the nest has been there for a little while, you will start to see some of the above signs of a leak in a gutter – like rust or puddling – if you don’t get rid of the nest.
Trees & Plants – A tree can take root in your rain gutter with minimal debris present. While it may be little now, a sapling will sprout strong roots that can destroy aluminum gutters before you even know it.
Professional Gutter Repair
Any of these easy-to-see signs indicate 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 see if there’s a cause for concern.
This is when a professional gutter service in Canton can be helpful. They can distinguish if 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 decide to do basic gutter care and maintenance, such as gutter cleaning, on their own. Although it is time consuming and somewhat dangerous, they are ready to take on the chore a couple of times each year to save a little money.
However, anything beyond simple gutter cleaning is best left to professionals.
Start by finding a gutter specialist with good customer reviews like Canton Gutters, Inc. Then let us do an inspection to correctly diagnose the problem. We offer free inspections for potential customers.
If there are gutter repairs to be made, or if we think that it’s time to install new gutters, you can trust us to get the job done. Our gutter repair service can save you a lot of time and trouble in the long run!