Are Your Gutters Leaking?
Gutters are important because – despite being simple and relatively inexpensive – they protect valuable home investments, like the roof, foundation and windows. Taking care of and cleaning rain gutters is an easy way to protect your home from major damages.
And it’s much simpler than you probably think.
Finding a leak in your gutters early can protect an entire home. In this blog post, we’ve provided a few indicators that you can be on the lookout for (without hiring a roof specialist) to determine if there is a leak in your gutters.
How to Identify a Gutter Leak
There are a number of signs that suggest a leaking gutter, even if you don’t see water dripping. You can do a visual inspection from the ground to decide if the signs of a leaking gutter are present.
Here are some things to keep an eye out for:
Visible Flaws – When the gutters pull away from the roof, it stresses the fasteners. Cracks can be the result of faulty installation, low quality materials, storm damage or age. Cracks in the gutter or seeing any part of them pulling away from the house might not be causing a leak just yet, but will definitely create problems. Getting these defects repaired is much more affordable than installing new gutters or any of the damages a leak can lead to.
Pooling – If rain is puddling around your house, it’s a possible sign that a gutter leak is probably present. But you should also check underground pipes, water spigots and any other water source that is close to your house, just to be sure.
Pooling water around your home can be really bad for the foundation. It’s also bad for landscaping and can cause your windows to leak.
Dripping – One of the most visible signs of a leaking gutter is a drip, or several of them.
A drip from your rain gutter indicates a clog, but if it’s coming from the bottom and it isn’t overflowing, there is an unseen leak somewhere. These tiny leaks will happen if a fastener has become loose (see the next item on our list).
Visible Fasteners – Finding nails and screws wiggling their way out of the gutters likely means a leak is going to 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 solution is as easy as tightening them, but it might also be necessary 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 buy this type of sealant, or let a gutter repair company apply it.
Water Stains or Rust – Moisture leaves evidence behind, especially if it is constantly or frequently there. Darker water stains will appear because dirt and other materials adhere to the wet surface better than it would a dry one.
Rust is the result of constant moisture, and the more severe sign you’ll see after water stains. Most water stains on gutters can be cleaned away and the gutters can be fixed, but if 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 tree limb fall on your roof, but you’re starting to see paint flaking, cracking in the foundation or walkways, rotting wood on your porch or deck, or moldy window sills, you may have leaking gutters.
These are all signs that water has been leaking from a place it shouldn’t be. They also go hand in hand with aging building materials, so all factors need to be considered when inspecting gutters for leaks.
Other gutter issues…
Not every gutter issue leads to major repairs. If you see these common gutter issues, a gutter leak might not be the problem.
Rain Overflow – This issue is typically an easy fix. It’s probably not a gutter leak, but a clog that should be cleaned out. You can do this yourself or hire an Amherst gutter cleaning company – or even a general handyman – to clean out the gutters.
Animal Nests – A bird, squirrel, chipmunk or another pest can 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 to see some of the above signs of leaks – like rust or pooling – if you don’t get rid of the nest.
Trees & Plants – A tree can take root in your rain gutter with small amounts of debris present. While it may be little now, a sapling will sprout really strong roots that can damage aluminum gutters before you know it.
Professional Gutter Repair
Any of these visible signs indicate there are problems with your rain gutter that have to be addressed immediately. By quickly checking your gutters and downspouts, you can tell if there’s a cause for concern.
This is when a professional gutter service in Amherst can be of great help. They can determine whether gutter replacement is required or if you can get by with repairs to lengthen the life of your gutters. Sometimes, basic gutter cleaning is all that’s needed.
Homeowners can choose to do simple gutter care and maintenance, such as gutter cleaning, themselves. Although it it can be time consuming and somewhat dangerous, they are ready to take on the project a couple of times a year to save a little money.
However, any job beyond basic gutter cleaning should be left to the professionals.
Start by hiring a gutter specialist with good customer reviews like Amherst Gutters, Inc. Then let us do a full inspection to accurately diagnose the issue. We provide free inspections for potential customers.
If there are any gutter repairs to be made, or if we believe that it’s time for gutter replacement, 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!