Are Your Gutters Leaking?
Rain Gutters are important because – although they are simple and inexpensive – they protect more valuable home assets, such as the roof, foundation and windows. Caring for and cleaning gutters is an easy way to help protect your home from damages.
And it’s really a lot simpler than you might think.
Identifying a leaking gutter early can protect an entire home. Here, we’ve listed a few signs that you can look for (without calling a roofer) to see if your gutters may be leaking.
How to Identify a Gutter Leak
There are several warning signs that suggest a gutter leak, even if you don’t actually see water dripping. You can do an inspection from the safety of your ground to determine if the signs of a gutter leak are there.
Here are some things to keep an eye out for:
Visible Flaws – When the gutters pull away from the house, it causes stress on the fasteners. Cracks can be caused by faulty installation, poor quality materials, storm damage or general wear and tear. Cracks in the gutter channel or seeing any section of them pulling away from the roofing might not be causing a leak just yet, but will definitely lead to problems. Having these defects repaired is affordable than installing new gutters or any of the damages a leak can lead to.
Pooling – If rain is pooling around your home, it’s a possible 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 home, just to be careful.
Pooling water around your home can be especially damaging for the foundation. It’s also bad for landscaping and could cause windows to leak.
Drips – One of the most visible signs of a leaking gutter is a drip, or several drips.
A drip from your rain gutter is likely a clog, but if it’s coming from the bottom of the gutter and it isn’t overflowing, there is an unseen leak somewhere. These tiny leaks can happen if a fastener has gotten loose (see the next item below).
Visible Fasteners – Finding nails and screws wiggling their way out of the rain gutters means a leak is going to begin soon, if it hasn’t already. The hole where the nail or screw fits in becomes a new area where water can get out if the fastener starts to fall out.
Sometimes the solution is as easy as tightening them, but it could also be necessary to cover the hole so no more water can leak from the edge of the screw or nail, even after it is back in place. You can purchase this type of sealant, or let a gutter repair company apply it.
Water Stains or Rust – Moisture leaves evidence behind, especially when it is constantly or frequently present. Darker water stains will appear because dirt and other organic materials stick to the wet surface better than it would a dry one.
Rust is the result of nearly constant moisture, and the more extreme sign you’ll notice after water stains. water stains can be cleaned 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 recently been a storm, and you haven’t had a tree limb fall on top of your roof, but you’re starting to notice paint flaking, cracking in the foundation around the downspouts or walkways, decaying wood on your porch or deck, or moldy window sills, you could have leaking gutters.
These are all signs 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 all gutter issues lead to home repairs. If you see these common gutter issues, a gutter leak might not be the problem.
Rain Overflow – This issue is a pretty easy fix. It’s likely not a leak, but a clog that should be removed. You can do this yourself or hire a Dearborn Heights gutter cleaning service – or even a general handyman – to clean them out.
Animal Nests – A small bird, squirrel, chipmunk or other pest can quickly build a nest in your gutters or downspout, which can also cause overflow. Once the nest has been there awhile, you will start to see some of the above signs of leaks – like rust or puddling – if you don’t get rid of it.
Trees & Plants – A tree can easily take root in your gutter with minimal debris present. While it may be small now, a sapling will sprout strong roots that can destroy aluminum gutters before you know it.
Professional Gutter Repair
Any of these visible signs indicate there are issues with your rain gutter that have to be addressed right away. By checking your gutters and downspouts, you can tell if there’s a cause for concern.
This is where a gutter service in Dearborn Heights can be helpful. They can determine whether gutter replacement is necessary or if you can get by with repairs to extend the life of your 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 dangerous, they are eager to complete the project 1-2 times a year to save a little money.
However, anything beyond simple gutter cleaning should be left to the professionals.
Start by calling a gutter specialist with good customer reviews like Dearborn Heights Gutters. Then let us do an 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 trust us to get the job done. Our gutter repair service can save you a lot of time and trouble in the long run!