Are Your Gutters Leaking?
Gutters are really important because – although they are simple and inexpensive – they protect more valuable home investments, such as the roof, foundation and windows. Taking care of and cleaning gutters is an easy way to help prevent your home from major damages.
And it’s really a lot easier than you might think.
Identifying a leak in your gutters early can protect the entire house. Below, we’ve provided a few signs that you can be on the lookout for (without calling a roof specialist) to see if there is a leak in your gutters.
How to Identify a Gutter Leak
There are many signs that suggest a gutter leak, even if you don’t actually see water dripping. You can do a visual inspection from the lawn to decide if the signs of a leaking gutter are present.
Here are some things to keep an eye out for:
Visible Flaws – When gutters begin to pull away from the roof, it causes stress on the connectors. Cracks can be caused by faulty installation, poor quality materials, damage or general wear and tear. Cracks in the gutter channel or seeing any part of them pulling away from the home might not be causing a leak just yet, but will ultimately cause problems. Having these defects repaired is affordable than replacing gutters or any of the damages a leak can lead to.
Pooling – If water is puddling 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 water source that is close to your house, just to be sure.
Pooling water by your home can be very damaging for the foundation. It’s also bad for landscaping and might cause your windows to leak.
Dripping – One of the most obvious signs of gutter leaks is a drip, or several of them.
A drip coming from your gutter indicates a clog, but if it’s coming from the bottom and it isn’t overflowing, there is an unseen leak. These tiny leaks will occur if a fastener has become loose (see the next item on our list).
Visible Fasteners – Seeing nails and screws wiggling their way out of the gutters 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 answer is as simple as tightening them, but it can also be important to cover the hole so no water can escape from around the screw or the 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 when it is consistently or frequently there. Darker water stains appear because dirt and other materials adhere 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 you see water stains. water stains can be cleaned away and the gutters can be fixed, but if the gutters are rusty, they will definitely have to be repaired or replaced.
Unexplained Home Damage – If there hasn’t recently been a severe 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 or walkways, rotting wood on your patio or deck, or mold on your window sills, you may have leaking gutters.
These are all signs that water has been leaking from somewhere it shouldn’t. They also go hand in hand with aging building materials, so all factors need to be taken into account when inspecting gutters for leaks.
Other gutter issues…
Not all gutter issues lead to major repairs. If you see these gutter issues, a leak may not be the problem.
Rain Overflow – This issue 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 Raleigh gutter cleaning company – or even a general handyman – to clean them out.
Animal Nests – A bird, squirrel, chipmunk or another pest can quickly build a nest in your gutters or in your downspout, which can also 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 it.
Trees & Plants – A tree can take root in your gutter with small amounts of 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 visible signs mean there are issues with your gutter that have to be addressed immediately. By quickly checking all of your gutters and downspouts, you can tell if there’s a cause for concern.
This is where a professional gutter service in Raleigh can be of great help. They can determine whether gutter replacement is required or if you can get by with repairs to lengthen the lifetime of your home’s gutters. Sometimes, gutter cleaning is all that’s needed.
Homeowners can decide to do simple gutter care and maintenance, such as gutter cleaning, on their own. Although it is time-consuming and dangerous, they are ready to take on the chore a couple of times a year to save some money.
However, anything beyond simple gutter cleaning is best left to professionals.
Start by finding a gutter service with good customer reviews like PRO Raleigh Gutters. Then let us do an inspection to accurately diagnose the issue. We provide free inspections for new customers.
If there are any repairs to be made, or if we believe that it’s time to install new gutters, you can trust us to get the job done right. Our gutter repair service can save you a lot of time and trouble in the long run!