Are Your Gutters Leaking?
Rain Gutters are important because – although they are simple and inexpensive – they protect more valuable home assets, such as the roof, foundation and windows. Caring for and cleaning rain gutters is an easy way to protect 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 home. Below, we’ve provided a few indicators that you can look for (without calling a roof specialist) to determine if you have a gutter leaking.
How to Identify a Leaking Gutter
There are several signs that point to leaking gutters, even if you don’t actually see water dripping. You can do a visual inspection from the ground to determine if the signs of a leaking gutter are there.
Here are some things to keep an eye out for:
Visible Flaws – When gutters begin to pull away from the house, it stresses the connections. Cracks can be the result of faulty installation, low quality materials, damage or age. Cracks in the gutter channel or seeing any section of them pulling away from the roofing might not cause a leak just yet, but these things will definitely result in problems. Having these defects fixed is a lot more affordable than gutter replacement or any of the possible damages a leak can cause.
Pooling Water – If water 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 sure.
Pooling water by your house can be bad for the foundation. It’s also bad for landscaping and can cause windows to leak.
Drips – One of the most obvious signs of gutter leaks is a drip, or several drips.
A drip from your rain gutter indicates a clog, but if it’s coming from the bottom of the gutter and it isn’t overflowing, there is an unseen leak somewhere. These small leaks will occur if a fastener has gotten loose (see the next item on our list).
Visible Fasteners – Seeing nails and screws working their way out of the rain gutters 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 escape if the fastener works its way out.
Sometimes the answer is as simple as refastening them, but it may also be important to cover the hole so no water can leak 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 if it is constantly or frequently there. Dark water stains will appear because dirt and other organic materials adhere to the moist surface better than on a drier one.
Rust is the result 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 repaired, but if your 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 tree limb fall on top of your roof, but you’re starting to notice paint flaking, cracking in the foundation or walkways, rotting wood on your porch or deck, or moldy window sills, you could have a gutter leak.
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 of these 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 common gutter issues, a leak might not be the issue.
Rain Overflow – This issue is a pretty easy fix. It’s probably not a gutter leak, but a clog that should be cleaned out. You can do this yourself or hire a Augusta gutter cleaning service – even a general handyman – to clean out the gutters.
Animal Nests – A small bird, squirrel, chipmunk can quickly build a nest in your rain gutters or in your downspout, which will 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 pooling – if you don’t get rid of it.
Trees & Plants – A tree can easily take root in your gutter with small amounts of debris present. While it may be little now, a tree sapling will sprout really strong roots that can destroy aluminum gutters before you know it.
Professional Gutter Repair
Any of these easy-to-see signs mean there are problems with your gutter that must be addressed right away. By quickly checking all of your gutters and downspouts, you can tell if there’s a reason for concern.
This is where a gutter service in Augusta can be helpful. They can distinguish whether gutter replacement is required or if you can get by with repairs to lengthen the life of your home’s gutters. Sometimes, gutter cleaning is all that’s needed.
Homeowners can decide to do basic gutter care, like gutter cleaning, on their own. Although it it can be time consuming and dangerous, they are willing to take on the chore a couple of times each year to save a little money.
However, any job beyond basic gutter cleaning should be left to the professionals.
Start by hiring a gutter service with excellent customer reviews like A+ Augusta Gutters. Then let us do a full inspection to accurately diagnose the issue. We provide free inspections for new customers.
If there are 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. Our gutter repair service can save you a lot of time and trouble in the long run!