Are Your Gutters Leaking?
Rain Gutters are very important because – although they are simple and relatively inexpensive – they protect more valuable home assets, like the roof, foundation and windows. Maintaining and cleaning gutters is an easy way to help prevent your home from major damages.
And it’s really much simpler than you might think.
Identifying a gutter leak early can protect your entire home. Here, we’ve listed a few indicators that you can look for (without calling a roofer) to see if you have a gutter leaking.
How to Identify a Leaking Gutter
There are several warning signs that indicate a leaking gutter, even if you don’t see water dripping. You can do a visual inspection from the safety of your lawn to determine if the signs of a gutter leak are present.
Here are some things to look for:
Obvious Flaws – When gutters begin to pull away from the home, it stresses the fasteners. Cracks can be caused by faulty installation, low quality materials, storm damage or general wear and tear. Cracks in the gutter channel or seeing any part of them pulling away from the house may not be causing a leak just yet, but these things will ultimately result in issues. Having these defects repaired is more affordable than installing new gutters or any of the potential damages a leak can lead to.
Pooling – If water is pooling around your home, it’s a sign that a gutter leak is probably present. But you should also check pipes, water spigots and any water source that is near your home, just to be sure.
Pooling water around your house can be very harmful for the foundation. It’s also bad for landscaping and might cause your windows to leak.
Drips – One of the most visible signs of a gutter leak is a drip, or several of them.
A drip from your 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 somewhere. These small 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 rain gutters likely means a leak is going to start 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 answer is as simple as tightening them, but it can also be important to seal the hole so no more water can leak from the edge of the screw or nail, even after it is tightened again. You can buy this type of sealant, or let a gutter repair company apply it.
Water Stains or Rust – Water leaves behind evidence, especially if it is constantly 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 extreme sign you’ll see after you see water stains. Most water stains on gutters can be cleaned and the gutters can be fixed, but if your gutters are rusty, they will definitely have 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 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 a gutter leak.
These are all indications that water has been leaking from somewhere it shouldn’t be. They also are related to aging building materials, so all factors need to be factored in when inspecting gutters for leaks.
Other gutter issues…
Not all gutter issues lead to major repairs. If you see these common gutter issues, a gutter leak might not be the issue.
Rain Overflow – This issue is typically an easy fix. It’s likely not a leak, but a clog that needs to be removed. You can do this or hire a Minnetonka gutter cleaning company – even a general handyman – to clean them out.
Animal Nests – A small bird, squirrel, chipmunk or other pest can build a nest in your rain gutters or downspout, which can cause overflow. Once the nest has been there awhile, you will start seeing some of the above signs of a leak in a gutter – like rust or pooling – if you don’t get rid of the nest.
Trees & Plants – A tree can take root in your gutter with small amounts of debris present. While it may be small now, a tree sapling will sprout strong roots that can destroy aluminum gutters before you even know it.
Professional Gutter Repair
Any of these visible signs mean there are issues with your gutter that need to be addressed immediately. By checking your gutters and downspouts, you can see if there’s a reason for concern.
This is when a professional gutter service in Minnetonka can be of great help. They can determine if 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 all that’s needed.
Some homeowners choose to do basic gutter care, like gutter cleaning, themselves. Although it it can be time consuming and sometimes dangerous, they are willing to take on the project 1-2 times a year to save a little money.
However, any job beyond gutter cleaning should be left to the professionals.
Start by hiring a gutter specialist with excellent customer reviews like Clean Home Gutters. Then let us do an inspection to correctly diagnose the problem. We provide free inspections for potential customers.
If there are gutter repairs to be made, or if we feel that it’s time to install new gutters, you can count on us to get the job done. Our gutter repair service will save you a lot of time and trouble in the long run!