Are Your Gutters Leaking?
Rain Gutters are really important because – despite being simple and inexpensive – they protect more valuable home components, like the roof, foundation and windows. Maintaining and cleaning gutters is an easy way to help protect your home from damages.
And it’s really much easier than you might think.
Identifying a leak in your gutters early can protect the entire home. Here, we’ve listed a few signs that you can look for (without hiring a roofer) to see if there is a leak in your gutters.
How to Identify Leaking Gutters
There are many warning signs that indicate a gutter leak, even if you don’t actually notice water dripping. You can do an inspection from the lawn to decide if the signs of a leaking gutter are there.
Here are some things to look for:
Obvious Flaws – When gutters begin to pull away from the home, it causes stress on the connections. Cracks can be the result of poor installation, poor quality materials, damage or age. Cracks in the gutter channel or seeing any part of them pulling away from the roof might not be causing a leak just yet, but these things will ultimately create issues. Having these defects repaired is more affordable than installing new gutters or any of the damages a leak can lead to.
Pooling Water – If water is puddling around your home, it’s a sign that a gutter leak is probably present. But you should also check pipes, water spigots and any other water source that is close to your house, just in case.
Pooling water near your home can be harmful for the foundation. It’s also bad for landscaping and could cause your windows to leak.
Dripping – One of the most obvious signs of a gutter leak is a drip, or several drips.
A drip coming 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 minor leaks can happen if a fastener has become loose (see the next item on our list).
Visible Fasteners – Finding nails and screws working their way out of the gutters means a leak is going to start soon, if it hasn’t already. The area where the nail or screw fits becomes a new area where water can get out if the fastener works its way out.
Sometimes the answer is as simple as refastening them, but it may also be important to cover the hole so no water can escape from around the screw or nail, even after it is back in place. You can buy this type of sealant, or let a gutter repair company put it on.
Water Stains or Rust – Water leaves evidence behind, especially if it is consistently or frequently there. Dark water stains will appear because dirt and other debris stick to the wet surface better than it would a dry one.
Rust is the product of nearly constant moisture, and the more severe sign you’ll notice after you see water stains. water stains can be cleaned away and the gutters can be repaired, 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 tree limb fall on your roof, but you’re beginning to see paint flaking, cracking in the foundation or walkways, decaying wood on your porch or deck, or moldy window sills, you could have leaking gutters.
These are all indications that water has been leaking from a place it shouldn’t be. They also go hand in hand with aging building materials, so all of these 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 gutter issues, a leak might not be the issue.
Rain Overflow – This one is usually an easy fix. It’s likely not a leak, but a clog that should be removed. You can do this yourself or hire a Greensboro gutter cleaning service – or even a general handyman – to clean out the gutters.
Animal Nests – A small bird, squirrel, chipmunk can quickly build a nest in your gutters or downspout, which can cause overflow. Once the nest has been there awhile, 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 it.
Trees & Plants – A tree can easily take root in your rain gutter with little debris present. While it may be small now, a sapling will sprout really strong roots that can damage aluminum gutters before you even know it.
Professional Gutter Repair
Any of these obvious signs mean there are issues with your gutter that must be addressed right away. By quickly checking your gutters and downspouts, you can tell if there’s a cause for concern.
This is where a gutter service in Greensboro can be of great help. They can distinguish whether gutter replacement is necessary or if you can get by with repairs to lengthen the life of your home’s gutters. Sometimes, gutter cleaning is the only thing that’s needed.
Homeowners can decide to do basic gutter care and maintenance, like gutter cleaning, themselves. Although it it can be time consuming and dangerous, they are ready to complete the chore a couple of times each year to save a little money.
However, anything beyond simple gutter cleaning is best left to the professionals.
Start by calling a gutter service with good customer reviews like Greensboro Gutter Specialists. Then let us do a full inspection to correctly diagnose the issue. We offer free inspections for potential customers.
If there are repairs to be made, or if we believe that it’s time to install new gutters, you can count on us to get the job done. Our gutter repair service can save you a lot of time and trouble in the long run!