What is Gutter Pitch?
Rain gutters are set at a slight angle so water drains out instead of sitting stagnant. They don’t look slanted because installation pros know exactly what they’re doing, but they are.
Gutters should have an angled slope based on this formula:
¼ of an inch of drop per 10 feet of horizontal gutter
This calculation tells your gutter installer where to fasten the downspout so that heavy amounts of precipitation can flow unobstructed from your roof. The side of your home’s roof where the downspouts are located is the side that should be lower.
Longer sections of gutter, like across the front of a home, require a downspout on both sides. When this is happening, the rain gutters will be pitched from the middle, meaning that the center of the roofline will be the highest point, and both of the downspouts need to be lower than this middle point.
Gutter Pitch Problems
If your gutters are installed incorrectly or if they have become loose or bent, it can cause problems that might be expensive and difficult to fix.
When your gutter pitch is wrong, it can cause water to back up in your gutters. Water is a typical problem around the home, as it can lead to all of the issues below:
- Water inside of the gutters can lead to roof damage because of the standing water. When it doesn’t flow from the gutters, water can seep under the shingles and cause harm to the fascia, sub-roofing and even leak inside your house.
- Standing rain water is one way mildew and mold can grow on sections of your roof, gutters or siding. Getting rid of mold is a challenging project, especially if it grows on your roof. Mold is known for destroying organic materials (many of which exist in your home) and making people sick.
- The weight of blocked water inside your gutters can lead them to tear away from your roof. The gutters can tear out fasteners from the walls, destroying your vinyl or other exterior materials. It can also ruin surrounding landscaping and windows.
Do You Have a Gutter Pitch Problem?
To make sure your gutters are correctly pitched, here are a few things you can do:
Look for Hanging Spots
Like we said before, you shouldn’t be able to notice the slope of your gutters. If you can noticeably tell where the low point is, it is an indication that your gutter is damaged or it is getting old.
You should still be able to see a dip in the gutters from the ground, so this is a safe job that homeowners can do on their own, with both feet on the ground.
Check for Standing Water
Water naturally follows the path of least resistance, so any amount of water inside of your home’s gutters is an issue. If possible, check the gutters immediately after rainfall so you can see the draining of the water.
This could require you to climb a ladder, so exercise caution. If you aren’t comfortable doing this, you can have a local handyman or a gutter specialist from Springfield Gutter Service check it out for you.
Inspect for Shingle Particles
Any small granules left behind in the gutters from your roof shingles are a sign that the rain gutters may not have enough pitch, so the water can’t carry these materials out. Seeing grit or sludge inside of your gutters is more common after getting a new roof installed because it will tend to lose a lot of excess particles in the first couple of years.
You can climb up and take a look, or you might notice some of the particles flowing out of your gutters through the downspouts. If you notice a small amount in these areas, chances are there is more that can’t make its way out.
Why is There Overflow?
Gutter overflow is usually caused by a blockage, but it can also be due to incorrect gutter pitch. If rain water is flowing the wrong way, know as “back pitch,” you will probably see water overflowing at the end cap. This can damage to your roof, gutters and surrounding landscaping.
To remove the possibility of blockage, schedule gutter cleaning at least once a year or install gutter guards. If you know the gutters are clean but you are still seeing overflow, it’s one more indicator that there is a gutter pitch problem.
Professional Gutter Damage Repair
If your gutter pitch is distorted, it can cause many problems for your home. All of the issues above can let you know that your gutter pitch is wrong.
Regardless of whether your gutters were damaged or they were installed poorly in the first place, they need to be re-pitched if you want to avoid major home repairs, including siding damage, leaks and landscape damage.
Gutter Repair in Springfield
The first option will be repairing the existing gutters so the pitch is restored. If the gutters are in prime condition and undamaged, this will be the route Springfield Gutter Service recommends.
To restore gutter pitch, Springfield Gutter Service will loosen the gutter, but they won’t have to take it all the way down. This lowers labor costs and time. Then the technician will measure and determine the pitch needed and reinstall the gutters, relocating fasteners if necessary, to fit the specific measurements.
Gutter Installation in Springfield
If your gutters are severely damaged, or if they are starting to rust or wear down with age, Springfield Gutter Service may recommend to replace them instead of re-pitching them. This will be more economical in the long run and time-saving.
If your gutters have to be replaced with new ones, they will include new fasteners, hardware and downspouts. The installer should set the gutters at the proper pitch. You can reference the tips above to make sure the new installation was done the right way.