Are Your Gutters Leaking?
Rain Gutters are so important because – while they are simple and relatively inexpensive – they protect more valuable home components, like the roof, foundation and windows. Taking care of and cleaning gutters is an easy way to protect your house from damages.
And it’s a lot easier than you probably think.
Spotting a leak in your gutters early can protect your entire house. Below, we’ve provided a few signs that you can be on the lookout for (without hiring a roofer) to determine if there is a leak in your gutters.
How to Identify a Leaking Gutter
There are several signs that point to leaking gutters, even if you don’t actually notice water dripping. You can do an inspection from the safety of your lawn to decide if the signs of a leaking gutter are there.
Here are some things to keep an eye out for:
Visible Flaws – When gutters begin to pull away from the house, it causes stress on the fasteners. Cracks can be the result of poor installation, low quality materials, storm damage or age. Cracks in the gutter channel or seeing any part of them pulling away from the roofing may not be causing a leak just yet, but will definitely lead to problems. Getting these defects fixed is affordable than replacing gutters or any of the damages a leak can cause.
Pooling Water – If water is puddling around your house, it’s a sign that a gutter leak is present. But you should also check pipes, water spigots and any water source that is close to your house, just to be careful.
Pooling water around your house can be damaging 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 drips.
A drip coming from your gutter could indicate a clog, but if it’s coming from the bottom and it isn’t a big overflow, 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 – Seeing nails and screws working their way out of the gutters means a leak will begin soon, if it hasn’t already. The hole where the nail or screw fits starts to become a new area where water can escape if the fastener starts to fall out.
Sometimes the answer is as easy as tightening them, but it might also be important to cover the hole so no 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 when it is consistently or frequently there. Darker water stains appear because dirt and other organic debris adhere to the wet surface better than it would a drier one.
Rust is the result of nearly constant moisture, and the more severe sign you’ll see after water stains. Most water stains can be cleaned away and the gutters can be fixed, 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 top of your roof, but you’re starting to notice paint flaking, cracking in the foundation or walkways, decaying wood on your patio or deck, or mold on your window sills, you may have a gutter leak.
These are all signs that water has been leaking from a place it shouldn’t. They also are related to older building materials, so all factors should be considered when inspecting gutters for leaks.
Other gutter issues…
Not all gutter issues lead to major repairs. If you see these gutter issues, a leak might not be the problem.
Rain Overflow – This issue is a pretty simple fix. It’s likely not a leak, but a clog that should be removed. You can do this or hire a Hamilton gutter cleaning service – or even a general handyman – to clean them out.
Animal Nests – A bird, squirrel, chipmunk can build a nest in your rain gutters or downspout, which will cause overflow. Once the nest has been there a 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 damage aluminum gutters before you know it.
Professional Gutter Repair
Any of these visible signs mean there are issues with your gutter that have to be addressed immediately. By quickly checking all of your gutters and downspouts, you can tell if there’s a reason for concern.
This is where a professional gutter service in Hamilton can be of great help. They can determine whether gutter replacement is necessary or if you can get by with repairs to lengthen the life of your home’s gutters. Sometimes, basic gutter cleaning is the only thing that’s needed.
Homeowners can decide to do basic gutter care and maintenance, such as gutter cleaning, themselves. Although it is time-consuming and somewhat dangerous, they are eager to complete the chore 1-2 times each year to save a little money.
However, anything beyond basic gutter cleaning is best left to professionals.
Start by calling a gutter specialist with excellent customer reviews like Clean Home Gutters. Then let us do a full inspection to accurately determine the issue. We offer free inspections for new customers.
If there are any repairs to be made, or if we feel that it’s time for gutter replacement, 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!