What is Gutter Pitch?
Gutters are fastened at a slight angle so that water flows out rather than remaining stagnant. They don’t look slanted because installation companies know exactly what they’re doing, but they are.
Gutters have an angled slope based on this formula:
¼ of an inch of drop per 10 feet of horizontal gutter
This calculation tells your gutter installation technician right where to attach the downspout so that heavier amounts of precipitation can flow smoothly from your roof. The side of your home’s roof where the downspouts are located is the side that should be the lower end.
Longer areas of gutter, like across the front of a house, may require a downspout on both sides. When this is the case, the rain gutters will need to be pitched from the middle, which means that the center of the roofline will be the absolute highest point, and both downspouts need to be lower than this center point.
Gutter Pitch Problems
If your gutters are installed the wrong way or if they have become loose or bent, it can lead to problems that can be expensive and difficult to fix.
When there is a gutter pitch problem, it can make water back up in your gutters. Water is a common problem around the house, as it can cause all of the issues below:
- Water inside of the gutters can lead to roof damage due to the standing water. When water backs up in the gutters, water can get underneath the shingles and cause harm to the fascia, sub-roofing and even get inside your home.
- Standing water is one way mold and mildew can grow on areas of your roof, gutters or siding. Getting rid of mold is a very hard task, especially if it grows on your roof. Mold is known for destroying organic materials (many of which are common in your home) and making people sick.
- The weight of pooling water in your rain gutters can cause them to pull away from your house. The gutters can pull fasteners from the siding, damaging your vinyl or other exterior materials. It can also damage surrounding landscaping and windows.
Do You Have a Gutter Pitch Problem?
To be confident your gutters are correctly pitched, here are a some of the things you can do:
Look for Hanging Spots
Like we said before, you shouldn’t be able to see the slope of your gutters. If you can visibly tell where the low spot is, this is a sign that your gutter has been damaged or that it is getting worn out.
You should still be able to notice a dip in the gutters from the ground, so this is a safe job that you can do on your own, with both feet on the ground.
Check for Standing Water
Rain water naturally follows the path of least resistance, so any amount of water in your gutters is a problem. Try to check the gutters immediately after rainfall so you can see the draining of the water.
This may force you to climb a ladder, so exercise caution. If you aren’t comfortable doing this, you can have a local handyman or a gutter specialist from Discount Gutter Services check it out for you.
Inspect for Shingle Particles
Any tiny granules remaining in the gutters from your shingles are a sign that the rain gutters might not have enough slope, so the water can’t carry these materials away. Grit or sludge in your gutters is common after having a new roof installed because it will tend to lose excess granules in the first few years.
You can climb up and look, or you might see some of these particles flowing out of your gutters through the downspouts. If you notice a small amount in these areas, there is a good chance there is more that can’t make its way out.
Why is There Overflow?
Gutter overflow is sometimes caused by a blockage, but it can also be the result of incorrect gutter pitch. If water is flowing the wrong way, called “back pitch,” you will probably see water overflowing from the end cap. This can cause damage to your roof, gutters and surrounding landscaping.
To prevent the possibility of blockage, schedule gutter cleaning at least once a year or install gutter guards. If you know the gutters are clean but there is still overflow, it’s another sign that your gutter pitch may be wrong.
Professional Gutter Damage Repair
If your gutter pitch gets incorrect, it can lead to several problems for your home. All of the problems above can let you know that your gutter pitch is not right.
No matter if your gutters were damaged or if they were installed incorrectly in the first place, they need to be re-pitched in order to avoid major home repairs, including siding damage, leaks and landscape damage.
Gutter Repair in Columbus
The most affordable option will be repairing the existing gutters so the proper pitch is restored. If the gutters are in good condition and undamaged, this will be the route Discount Gutter Services recommends.
To correct gutter pitch, Discount Gutter Services will loosen the gutter, but they won’t need to take it totally down. This saves labor costs and time. Then the technician will measure and determine the proper pitch and reinstall the gutters, moving fasteners if necessary, to fit the correct measurements.
Gutter Installation in Columbus
If your gutters are severely damaged, or if they are starting to rust or wear down with age, Discount Gutter Services may recommend to replace them instead of re-pitching them. This can be more economical over time and time-saving.
If your gutters have to be replaced, they will include new fasteners, hardware and downspouts. The installer should set the gutters at the correct pitch. You can reference our tips above to make sure the new installation was done correctly.