Are Your Gutters Leaking?
Gutters are very important because – despite being simple and inexpensive – they protect more valuable home components, such as the roof, foundation and windows. Taking care of and cleaning gutters is an easy way to help protect your home from damages.
And it’s really a lot simpler than you probably think.
Finding a leak in your gutters early can protect your entire house. In this blog post, we’ve provided a few indicators that you can be on the lookout for (without calling a roof specialist) to see if your gutters are leaking.
How to Identify a Leaking Gutter
There are several warning signs that point to leaking gutters, even if you don’t physically see water dripping. You can do a visual inspection from the ground to decide if the signs of a leaking gutter are present.
Here’s what to look for:
Obvious Flaws – When gutters begin to pull away from the roof, it causes stress on the fasteners. Cracks can be the result of poor installation, low quality materials, storm damage or general wear and tear. Cracks in the gutter or seeing any part of them pulling away from the house may not cause a leak just yet, but these things will certainly create problems. Having these defects fixed is much more affordable than replacing gutters or any of the potential damages a leak can lead to.
Pooling – If rain is pooling around your home, it’s a possible sign that a gutter leak is present. But you should also check pipes, water spigots and any other water source that is near your home, just to be careful.
Pooling water by your home can be very bad for the foundation. It’s also bad for landscaping and can cause windows to leak.
Drips – One of the most obvious signs of a leaking gutter is a drip, or several drips.
A drip from your gutter could indicate a clog, but if it’s coming from the bottom and it isn’t overflowing, there is a hidden leak somewhere. These small leaks will occur if a fastener has gotten loose (see the next item below).
Visible Fasteners – Seeing nails and screws wiggling their way out of the rain gutters likely means a leak will start 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 starts to fall out.
Sometimes the solution is as easy as refastening them, but it might also be necessary to cover the hole so no water can leak from around the screw or the nail, even after it is tightened again. 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 consistently or frequently present. Dark water stains appear because dirt and other debris adhere to the moist surface better than it would a dry one.
Rust is the product of constant moisture, and the more extreme sign you’ll notice after you see water stains. Most water stains on gutters can be cleaned and the gutters can be fixed, but if gutters are rusty, they definitely have to be repaired or be replaced.
Unexplained Home Damage – If there hasn’t been a severe storm, and you haven’t had a limb fall on top of your roof, but you’re starting to notice paint flaking, cracking in the foundation around the downspouts or walkways, rotting wood on your porch or deck, or mold on your window sills, you might have a gutter leak.
These are all indications that water has been leaking from somewhere it shouldn’t be. They also go hand in hand with older building materials, so all of these 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 gutter issues, a gutter leak may not be the issue.
Rain Overflow – This issue is a pretty easy fix. It’s likely not a gutter leak, but a clog that should be cleaned out. You can do this yourself or hire a Somerville gutter cleaning company – even a general handyman – to clean them out.
Animal Nests – A small bird, squirrel, chipmunk can build a nest in your gutters or in your downspout, which can also cause overflow. Once the nest has been there for a little while, you will start seeing some of the above signs of leaks – like rust or puddling – if you don’t get rid of it.
Trees & Plants – A tree can take root in your gutter with minimal debris present. While it may be small now, a tree sapling will sprout really strong roots that can destroy aluminum gutters before you even know it.
Professional Gutter Repair
Any of these obvious signs mean there are problems with your gutter that need to be addressed right away. By quickly checking all of your gutters and downspouts, you can see if there’s a cause for concern.
This is when a professional gutter service in Somerville can be helpful. They can determine if gutter replacement is necessary or if you can get by with repairs to extend the life of your home’s gutters. Sometimes, basic gutter cleaning is all that’s needed.
Homeowners can decide to do simple gutter care, such as gutter cleaning, on their own. Although it it can be time consuming and sometimes dangerous, they are ready to complete the project 1-2 times each year to save a little money.
However, anything beyond gutter cleaning should be left to the professionals.
Start by calling a gutter specialist with excellent customer reviews like Somerville Gutter Solutions. Then let us do an inspection to correctly diagnose the issue. We offer free inspections for potential customers.
If there are any 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 will save you a lot of time and trouble in the long run!