Are Your Gutters Leaking?
Rain Gutters are very important because – although they are simple and relatively inexpensive – they protect more valuable home components, such as the roof, foundation and windows. Maintaining and cleaning rain gutters is an easy way to prevent your home from damages.
And it’s a lot easier than you probably think.
Spotting a leak in your gutters 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 determine if there is a leak in your gutters.
How to Identify a Leaking Gutter
There are a number of signs that suggest a gutter leak, even if you don’t actually see water dripping. You can do a visual inspection from the safety of your ground to determine if the signs of a gutter leak are present.
Here are some things to look for:
Obvious Flaws – When gutters start to pull away from the roof, it stresses the connectors. Cracks can be the result of faulty installation, low quality materials, storm damage or age. Cracks in the gutter or seeing any section of them pulling away from the roof may not cause a leak just yet, but these things will ultimately lead to problems. Having these defects repaired is more affordable than installing new gutters or any of the possible damages a leak can lead to.
Pooling – If water is puddling around your house, it’s a sign that a gutter leak is probably present. You should also check underground pipes, water spigots and any other water source that is close to your home, just to be sure.
Pooling water near your house can be harmful for the foundation. It’s also bad for landscaping and can cause windows to leak.
Dripping – One of the more noticeable signs of a leaking gutter is a drip, or several drips.
A drip from your gutter indicates a clog, but if it’s coming from the bottom and it isn’t a big overflow, there is an unseen leak. These tiny leaks can occur if a fastener has become loose (see the next item on our list).
Visible Fasteners – Finding nails and screws working their way out of the rain gutters likely means a leak is going to start soon, if it hasn’t already. The hole where the nail or screw fits in starts to become a new area where water can get out if the fastener starts to fall out.
Sometimes the solution is as simple as tightening them, but it could also be important to seal the hole so no more water can escape from around the screw or nail, even after it is tightened again. You can purchase this type of sealant, or let a gutter repair company put it on.
Water Stains or Rust – Water leaves evidence behind, especially when it is constantly or frequently there. Darker water stains will appear because dirt and other organic debris stick to the wet surface better than it would a drier one.
Rust is the product of constant moisture, and the more extreme sign you’ll notice after you see water stains. Most water stains can be cleaned away and the gutters repaired, but if the gutters are rusty, they will definitely have to be repaired or be replaced.
Unexplained Home Damage – If there hasn’t been a 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 or walkways, decaying 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 a place it shouldn’t be. They also are related to older building materials, so all factors need to be factored in 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 typically an easy fix. It’s likely not a leak, but a clog that should be removed. You can do this or hire a Sayreville 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 rain gutters or downspout, which can also cause overflow. Once the nest has been there for a little while, you will start to see 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 rain gutter with minimal debris present. While it may be little now, a sapling will sprout strong roots that can destroy aluminum gutters before you know it.
Professional Gutter Repair
Any of these easy-to-see signs indicate there are issues with your rain gutter that have to be addressed immediately. By quickly checking your gutters and downspouts, you can tell if there’s a reason for concern.
This is when a gutter service in Sayreville 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, basic gutter cleaning is all that’s needed.
Homeowners can decide to do basic gutter care and maintenance, such as gutter cleaning, on their own. Although it is time consuming and dangerous, they are ready to complete the project 1-2 times a year to save a little money.
However, any job beyond gutter cleaning is best left to professionals.
Start by hiring a gutter specialist with good customer reviews like Sayreville Gutter Service. Then let us do an inspection to accurately diagnose the issue. We provide 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 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!