Are Your Gutters Leaking?
Rain Gutters are very important because – despite being simple and relatively inexpensive – they protect valuable home assets, like the roof, foundation and windows. Caring for and cleaning rain gutters is an easy way to help protect your home from major damages.
And it’s really a lot easier than you probably think.
Spotting a leaking gutter early can protect the entire house. In this blog post, we’ve provided a few indicators that you can look for (without calling a roofer) to determine if you have a gutter leaking.
How to Identify a Gutter Leak
There are several warning signs that indicate a leaking gutter, even if you don’t see water dripping. You can do a visual inspection from the lawn to decide if the signs of a leaking gutter are there.
Here are some things to keep an eye out for:
Obvious Flaws – When the gutters pull away from the roof, it stresses the fasteners. Cracks can be the result of faulty installation, poor quality materials, damage or general wear and tear. Cracks in the gutter or seeing any part of them pulling away from the home might not cause a leak yet, but these things will certainly create problems. Getting these defects fixed is affordable than gutter replacement or any of the damages a leak can lead to.
Pooling – If rain is pooling around your home, it’s a sign that a gutter leak is present. But you should also check underground pipes, water spigots and any water source that is near your home, just in case.
Pooling water by your house can be very harmful for the foundation. It’s also bad for landscaping and can cause windows to leak.
Drips – One of the most visible signs of gutter leaks is a drip, or several drips.
A drip from your rain gutter could indicate a clog, but if it’s coming from the bottom of the gutter and it isn’t a big overflow, there is an unseen leak. These tiny leaks can happen if a fastener has become loose (see the next item on our list).
Visible Fasteners – Seeing nails and screws working their way out of the rain gutters likely means a leak will 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 answer is as simple as tightening them, but it can also be necessary to seal the hole so no water can escape from the edge of the screw or nail, even after it is back in place. You can purchase this sealant, or let a gutter repair company put it on.
Water Stains or Rust – Moisture leaves behind evidence, especially when it is consistently or frequently present. Darker water stains appear because dirt and other materials adhere to the wet surface better than it would a dry one.
Rust is the product of nearly constant moisture, and the more severe sign you’ll see after water stains. Most water stains on gutters can be cleaned and the gutters fixed, but if your gutters are rusty, they definitely need to be repaired or 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 moldy window sills, you could have leaking gutters.
These are all indications that water has been leaking from somewhere 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 issue is a pretty simple fix. It’s likely not a gutter leak, but a clog that has to be removed. You can do this or hire a Redmond gutter cleaning service – or even a general handyman – to clean them out.
Animal Nests – A 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 a while, you will start to see some of the above signs of a leak in a gutter – like rust or puddling – if you don’t get rid of the nest.
Trees & Plants – A tree can easily take root in your gutter with little debris present. While it may be small now, a tree sapling will sprout really strong roots that can damage aluminum gutters before you even know it.
Professional Gutter Repair
Any of these obvious signs indicate there are problems with your gutter that have to be addressed immediately. By 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 Redmond can be of great help. They can determine if gutter replacement is required or if you can get by with repairs to lengthen the life of your gutters. Sometimes, gutter cleaning is all that’s needed.
Some homeowners decide to do basic gutter care, like gutter cleaning, themselves. Although it is time consuming and dangerous, they are eager to complete the chore a couple of times each year to save some money.
However, any job beyond basic gutter cleaning is best left to the professionals.
Start by calling a gutter service with good customer reviews like Renew Redmond Gutters. Then let us do an inspection to accurately diagnose the problem. We offer free inspections for potential customers.
If there are any gutter repairs to be made, or if we think that it’s time for gutter replacement, you can trust us to get the job done right. Our gutter repair service will save you a lot of time and trouble in the long run!