Are Your Gutters Leaking?
Gutters are so important because – despite being simple and relatively inexpensive – they protect valuable home components, such as the roof, foundation and windows. Taking care of and cleaning gutters is an easy way to protect your home from damages.
And it’s really much simpler than you might think.
Identifying a leaking gutter early can protect an entire house. Here, we’ve listed a few indicators that you can be on the lookout for (without hiring a roofer) to see if there is a leak in your gutters.
How to Identify a Gutter Leak
There are several warning signs that point to a leaking gutter, even if you don’t physically notice water dripping. You can do a visual inspection from the ground to decide if the signs of a leaking gutter are there.
Here are some things to look for:
Obvious Flaws – When the gutters pull away from the home, it stresses the connectors. Cracks can be the result of poor 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 house may not cause a leak just yet, but these things will ultimately cause issues. Getting these defects fixed is more affordable than installing new gutters or any of the damages a leak can cause.
Pooling – If water is puddling 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 near your house, just to be sure.
Pooling water around your house can be bad for the foundation. It’s also bad for landscaping and could cause your windows to leak.
Dripping – One of the most obvious signs of a leaking gutter is a drip, or several of them.
A drip from your rain gutter is likely a clog, but if it’s coming from the bottom and it isn’t overflowing, there is a hidden leak. These tiny leaks can happen if a fastener has gotten loose (see the next item below).
Visible Fasteners – Finding nails and screws working their way out of the gutters likely means a leak is going to begin soon, if it hasn’t already. The area where the nail or screw fits in starts to become a new area where water can get out if the fastener works its way out.
Sometimes the solution is as easy as refastening them, but it can also be important to seal the hole so no more water can escape from around the screw or the nail, even after it is back in place. You can buy this sealant, or let a gutter repair company put it on.
Water Stains or Rust – Moisture leaves evidence behind, especially when it is consistently or frequently present. Darker water stains will appear because dirt and other organic materials adhere to the moist surface better than it would a drier one.
Rust is the result of constant moisture, and the more severe sign you’ll see after water stains. water stains can be cleaned away and the gutters repaired, but if your gutters are rusty, they will definitely need to be repaired or be replaced.
Unexplained Home Damage – If there hasn’t been a severe storm, and you haven’t had a tree limb fall on your roof, but you’re starting to notice paint flaking, cracking in the foundation around the downspouts or walkways, decaying wood on your patio 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. They also go hand in hand with aging building materials, so all of these factors need to be taken into account when inspecting gutters for leaks.
Other gutter issues…
Not all gutter issues lead to home repairs. If you see these gutter issues, a leak might not be the problem.
Rain Overflow – This one is a pretty easy fix. It’s likely not a leak, but a clog that should be cleaned out. You can do this or hire a Renton gutter cleaning company – or even a general handyman – to clean out the gutters.
Animal Nests – A bird, squirrel, chipmunk or other pest can build a nest in your rain gutters or in your downspout, which will 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 easily take root in your gutter with little debris present. While it may be little now, a tree sapling will sprout strong roots that can damage aluminum gutters before you know it.
Professional Gutter Repair
Any of these obvious signs mean there are issues with your gutter that need to be addressed right away. By quickly checking your gutters and downspouts, you can see if there’s a cause for concern.
This is when a professional gutter service in Renton can be of great help. They can determine whether gutter replacement is necessary or if you can get by with repairs to extend the lifetime of your gutters. Sometimes, basic gutter cleaning is the only thing that’s needed.
Homeowners can decide to do simple gutter care, such as gutter cleaning, themselves. Although it is time consuming and dangerous, they are eager to take on the project 1-2 times a year to save a little money.
However, any job beyond gutter cleaning is best left to the professionals.
Start by finding a gutter service with excellent customer reviews like Renton Gutters & More!. Then let us do a full inspection to accurately determine the issue. We provide free inspections for new customers.
If there are gutter repairs to be made, or if we feel that it’s time to install new gutters, 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!