Are Your Gutters Leaking?
Gutters are important because – despite being simple and relatively inexpensive – they protect more valuable home components, such as 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 much simpler than you might think.
Spotting a leaking gutter early can protect your entire house. Here, we’ve provided a few signs that you can look for (without hiring a roofer) to see if you have a gutter leaking.
How to Identify a Gutter Leak
There are many warning signs that indicate a leaking gutter, even if you don’t physically notice water dripping. You can do an inspection from the lawn to decide if the signs of a leaking gutter are present.
Here’s what to look for:
Visible Flaws – When the gutters pull away from the home, it causes stress on the fasteners. Cracks can be the result of poor installation, low quality materials, storm damage or age. Cracks in the gutter or seeing any part of them pulling away from the house may not cause a leak yet, but will definitely create problems. Having these defects fixed is more affordable than gutter replacement or any of the potential damages a leak can cause.
Pooling – If rain is puddling around your house, it’s a possible sign that a gutter leak is present. You should also check pipes, water spigots and any water source that is near your home, just in case.
Pooling water near your home can be very damaging for the foundation. It’s also bad for landscaping and could cause windows to leak.
Drips – One of the more noticeable signs of gutter leaks is a drip, or several of them.
A drip from your gutter indicates 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 small leaks will occur if a fastener has become loose (see the next item below).
Visible Fasteners – Finding nails and screws working their way out of the gutters means a leak is going to begin soon, if it hasn’t already. The area where the nail or screw fits becomes a new area where water can escape if the fastener starts to fall out.
Sometimes the solution is as simple as refastening them, but it can also be important to cover the hole so no more water can escape from around the screw or the nail, even after it is tightened again. You can buy this type of sealant, or let a gutter repair company apply it.
Water Stains or Rust – Moisture leaves behind evidence, especially if it is consistently or frequently there. Darker water stains will appear because dirt and other debris adhere to the moist surface better than it would a dry one.
Rust is the product of constant moisture, and the more severe sign you’ll notice after water stains. Most water stains can be cleaned and the gutters can be repaired, but if the gutters are rusty, they will definitely need to be repaired or replaced.
Unexplained Home Damage – If there hasn’t recently been a storm, and you haven’t had a limb fall on your roof, but you’re starting to notice paint flaking, cracking in the foundation or walkways, decaying wood on your patio or deck, or moldy window sills, you could have leaking gutters.
These are all signs that water has been leaking from somewhere it shouldn’t be. They also go hand in hand with aging building materials, so all of these factors should be taken into account when inspecting gutters for leaks.
Other gutter issues…
Not all gutter issues lead to home repairs. If you see these gutter issues, a gutter leak may not be the issue.
Rain Overflow – This one is typically an easy fix. It’s probably not a gutter leak, but a clog that has to be removed. You can do this or hire a Columbus gutter cleaning service – or even a general handyman – to clean them out.
Animal Nests – A small bird, squirrel, chipmunk or other pests can quickly build a nest in your rain gutters or in your downspout, which will also cause overflow. Once the nest has been there a while, you will start seeing some of the above signs of leaks – like rust or puddling – if you don’t get rid of the nest.
Trees & Plants – A tree can take root in your rain gutter with minimal 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 issues with your rain gutter that have to be addressed right away. By quickly checking all of your gutters and downspouts, you can tell if there’s a cause for concern.
This is where a gutter service in Columbus can be of great help. They can distinguish whether gutter replacement is necessary or if you can get by with repairs to extend the lifetime of your gutters. Sometimes, basic gutter cleaning is all that’s needed.
Homeowners can decide to do simple gutter care and maintenance, such as gutter cleaning, themselves. Although it is time consuming and sometimes dangerous, they are ready to take on the project a couple of times each year to save some money.
However, anything beyond gutter cleaning is best left to professionals.
Start by hiring a gutter service with good customer reviews like Discount Gutter Services. Then let us do a full 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 feel that it’s time to install new gutters, you can count on us to get the job done right. Our gutter repair service can save you a lot of time and trouble in the long run!