Are Your Gutters Leaking?
Rain Gutters are so important because – while they are simple and relatively inexpensive – they protect more valuable home assets, like the roof, foundation and windows. Caring for and cleaning gutters is an easy way to protect your home from major damages.
And it’s really a lot simpler than you might think.
Spotting a leak in your gutters early can protect an entire house. Below, we’ve listed a few indicators that you can be on the lookout for (without calling a roof specialist) to determine if there is a leak in your gutters.
How to Identify Leaking Gutters
There are a number of warning signs that indicate a gutter leak, even if you don’t physically see water dripping. You can do an inspection from the safety of your lawn to determine if the signs of a gutter leak are there.
Here’s what to look for:
Visible Flaws – When the gutters pull away from the home, it stresses the connectors. Cracks can be the result of poor 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 cause a leak yet, but will definitely create problems. Having these defects fixed is more affordable than gutter replacement or any of the possible damages a leak can lead to.
Pooling Water – If water is puddling around your home, it’s a possible sign that a gutter leak is probably present. You should also check pipes, water spigots and any water source that is close to your home, just in case.
Pooling water around your house can be especially harmful for the foundation. It’s also bad for landscaping and could cause your windows to leak.
Drips – One of the most visible signs of a gutter leak is a drip, or several drips.
A drip coming from your rain gutter could indicate a clog, but if it’s coming from the bottom of the gutter and it isn’t a big overflow, there is a hidden leak. These tiny 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 rain gutters means a leak will begin soon, if it hasn’t already. The hole where the nail or screw fits becomes a new area where water can get out if the fastener starts to fall out.
Sometimes the solution is as easy as refastening them, but it could also be important to seal the hole so no more water can leak from around the screw or the nail, even after it is back in place. You can purchase this type of sealant, or let a gutter repair company put it on.
Water Stains or Rust – Water leaves behind evidence, especially when it is constantly or frequently there. Darker water stains appear because dirt and other organic debris adhere to the wet surface better than on a drier one.
Rust is the product of constant moisture, and the more extreme sign you’ll see after you see water stains. water stains on gutters can be cleaned and the gutters repaired, but if the 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 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. They also go hand in hand with older building materials, so all of these 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 might not be the problem.
Rain Overflow – This one is usually an easy fix. It’s probably not a leak, but a clog that needs to be removed. You can do this or hire a Springfield gutter cleaning company – even a general handyman – to clean out the gutters.
Animal Nests – A bird, squirrel, chipmunk or other pest can quickly build a nest in your gutters or in your downspout, which can cause overflow. Once the nest has been there for a little while, you will start seeing some of the above signs of leaks – like rust or pooling – 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 little now, a tree sapling will sprout really strong roots that can destroy aluminum gutters before you know it.
Professional Gutter Repair
Any of these visible signs mean there are problems with your gutter that must be addressed right away. By checking all of your gutters and downspouts, you can tell if there’s a cause for concern.
This is when a gutter service in Springfield 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.
Some homeowners choose to do basic gutter care, like gutter cleaning, on their own. Although it it can be time consuming and dangerous, they are eager to complete the chore a couple of times a year to save a little money.
However, any job beyond gutter cleaning should be left to the professionals.
Start by finding a gutter service with excellent customer reviews like Springfield Gutter Service. Then let us do a full inspection to correctly determine the issue. We provide free inspections for new customers.
If there are any repairs to be made, or if we think that it’s time for gutter replacement, 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!