Are Your Gutters Leaking?
Gutters are so important because – although they are simple and inexpensive – they protect valuable home components, like the roof, foundation and windows. Caring for and cleaning rain gutters is an easy way to help protect your house from damages.
And it’s a lot simpler than you might think.
Finding a gutter leak early can protect an entire house. In this blog post, we’ve listed a few signs that you can look for (without calling a roof specialist) to determine if you have a gutter leaking.
How to Identify Leaking Gutters
There are several signs that point to a gutter leak, even if you don’t actually see water dripping. You can do an 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:
Obvious Flaws – When the gutters pull away from the roof, it causes stress on the connections. Cracks can be the result of faulty installation, poor quality materials, storm damage or general wear and tear. Cracks in the gutter or seeing any section of them pulling away from the home might not be causing a leak yet, but will ultimately result in issues. Having these defects fixed is affordable than installing new gutters or any of the possible damages a leak can lead to.
Pooling Water – If water is pooling around your house, it’s a sign that a gutter leak is probably present. You should also check pipes, water spigots and any other water source that is close to your house, just in case.
Pooling water by your house can be really harmful for the foundation. It’s also bad for landscaping and might cause your windows to leak.
Drips – One of the most obvious signs of a gutter leak is a drip, or several drips.
A drip coming from your gutter is likely a clog, but if it’s coming from the bottom and it isn’t overflowing, there is an unseen leak. These tiny leaks will happen if a fastener has gotten loose (see the next item on our list).
Visible Fasteners – Finding nails and screws working their way out of the rain gutters means a leak is going to begin soon, if it hasn’t already. The area where the nail or screw fits starts to become a new area where water can get out if the fastener works its way out.
Sometimes the answer is as easy as refastening them, but it could also be necessary to seal the hole so no water can leak from the edge of the screw or nail, even after it is tightened again. You can purchase this sealant, or let a gutter repair company put it on.
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 materials stick to the wet surface better than on a drier one.
Rust is the result of constant moisture, and the more severe sign you’ll notice after water stains. Most water stains on gutters can be cleaned and the gutters repaired, but if gutters are rusty, they will definitely need to be repaired or be replaced.
Unexplained Home Damage – If there hasn’t recently been a severe storm, and you haven’t had a limb fall on your roof, but you’re starting to notice paint flaking, cracking in the foundation or walkways, decaying 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 a place it shouldn’t be. They also are related to older building materials, so all of these factors should 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 problem.
Rain Overflow – This one is usually an easy fix. It’s probably not a leak, but a clog that has to be removed. You can do this yourself or hire a Mentor 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 will cause overflow. Once the nest has been there while, you will start to see some of the above signs of leaks – like rust or pooling – if you don’t get rid of it.
Trees & Plants – A tree can take root in your gutter with little debris present. While it may be little now, a tree sapling will sprout strong roots that can destroy aluminum gutters before you know it.
Professional Gutter Repair
Any of these visible signs mean there are problems with your rain gutter that must be addressed right away. By quickly checking your gutters and downspouts, you can see if there’s a cause for concern.
This is where a professional gutter service in Mentor can be helpful. They can determine whether gutter replacement is required or if you can get by with repairs to extend the life of your gutters. Sometimes, basic gutter cleaning is all that’s needed.
Homeowners can choose to do basic gutter care, like gutter cleaning, on their own. Although it can be time consuming and somewhat dangerous, they are willing to take on the chore 1-2 times each year to save a little money.
However, any job beyond simple gutter cleaning is best left to the professionals.
Start by finding a gutter specialist with good customer reviews like Mentor Gutters & More!. Then let us do a full inspection to correctly diagnose the issue. We offer free inspections for potential customers.
If there are any 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!