Are Your Gutters Leaking?
Rain Gutters are important because – despite being simple and relatively inexpensive – they protect valuable home assets, like the roof, foundation and windows. Taking care of and cleaning gutters is an easy way to protect your home from major damages.
And it’s really a lot easier than you probably think.
Finding a leaking gutter early can protect the entire home. In this blog post, we’ve listed a few indicators that you can be on the lookout for (without calling a roof specialist) to see if you have a gutter leaking.
How to Identify Leaking Gutters
There are a number of warning signs that point to a gutter leak, even if you don’t physically see water dripping. You can do an inspection from the lawn to determine if the signs of a leaking gutter are there.
Here’s what to look for:
Obvious Flaws – When the gutters pull away from the house, it stresses the fasteners. Cracks can be caused by faulty installation, low quality materials, damage or general wear and tear. Cracks in the gutter channel or seeing any section of them pulling away from the roofing might not be causing a leak yet, but these things will certainly lead to problems. Having these defects repaired is much more affordable than installing new gutters or any of the possible damages a leak can cause.
Pooling – If water is puddling around your home, 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 careful.
Pooling water near your house can be harmful for the foundation. It’s also bad for landscaping and could cause your windows to leak.
Dripping – One of the more noticeable signs of gutter leaks is a drip, or several drips.
A drip coming from your gutter is likely a clog, but if it’s coming from the bottom of the gutter and it isn’t overflowing, there is a hidden leak. These small leaks can happen if a fastener has become loose (see the next item below).
Visible Fasteners – Finding nails and screws wiggling their way out of the rain gutters means a leak will 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 starts to fall out.
Sometimes the answer is as easy as refastening them, but it can also be necessary to seal the hole so no more water can leak from the edge of the screw or nail, even after it is tightened again. You can buy this sealant, or let a gutter repair company apply it.
Water Stains or Rust – Moisture leaves evidence behind, especially when it is consistently or frequently present. Dark water stains appear because dirt and other materials 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 water stains. Most water stains can be cleaned and the gutters repaired, but if gutters are rusty, they definitely have to be repaired or be 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 see paint flaking, cracking in the foundation or walkways, decaying wood on your porch or deck, or mold on your window sills, you might have leaking gutters.
These are all indications that water has been leaking from a place it shouldn’t be. They also go hand in hand with older building materials, so all factors need to be considered when inspecting gutters for leaks.
Other gutter issues…
Not every gutter issue leads to home repairs. If you see these gutter issues, a leak might not be the problem.
Rain Overflow – This issue is a pretty easy fix. It’s probably not a gutter leak, but a clog that needs to be cleaned out. You can do this or hire a Waltham gutter cleaning service – or even a general handyman – to clean them out.
Animal Nests – A small bird, squirrel, chipmunk or other pest can quickly build a nest in your rain gutters or downspout, which will cause overflow. Once the nest has been there for a little while, you will start to see some of the above signs of leaks – like rust or pooling – 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 little now, a sapling will sprout strong roots that can destroy aluminum gutters before you even know it.
Professional Gutter Repair
Any of these visible signs mean there are issues with your gutter that must be addressed immediately. By quickly checking your gutters and downspouts, you can tell if there’s a cause for concern.
This is where a gutter service in Waltham can be of great help. 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, gutter cleaning is all that’s needed.
Some homeowners choose to do basic gutter care and maintenance, such as gutter cleaning, themselves. Although it it can be time consuming and dangerous, they are ready to take on the chore 1-2 times each year to save a little money.
However, anything beyond basic gutter cleaning is best left to the professionals.
Start by calling a gutter service with excellent customer reviews like Waltham Gutters, Inc.. Then let us do a full inspection to correctly determine the problem. 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 right. Our gutter repair service will save you a lot of time and trouble in the long run!