Are Your Gutters Leaking?
Rain Gutters are really important because – although they are simple and relatively inexpensive – they protect more valuable home components, like the roof, foundation and windows. Caring for and cleaning gutters is an easy way to prevent your home from damages.
And it’s really much easier than you might think.
Finding a gutter leak early can protect your entire home. Below, we’ve listed a few signs that you can look for (without hiring a roof specialist) to see if there is a leak in your gutters.
How to Identify Leaking Gutters
There are a number of signs that suggest a leaking gutter, even if you don’t physically notice water dripping. You can do a visual inspection from the lawn to determine if the signs of a gutter leak are there.
Here’s what to keep an eye out for:
Obvious Flaws – When the gutters pull away from the house, it causes stress on the connections. Cracks can be the result of poor installation, poor quality materials, storm damage or general wear and tear. Cracks in the gutter or seeing any part of them pulling away from the home might not cause a leak just yet, but these things will certainly cause problems. Having these defects repaired is affordable than replacing gutters or any of the possible damages a leak can cause.
Pooling – If rain is pooling around your house, it’s a possible sign that a gutter leak is present. You should also check underground pipes, water spigots and any water source that is near your house, just to be careful.
Pooling water around your house can be especially bad for the foundation. It’s also bad for landscaping and might cause windows to leak.
Dripping – One of the most obvious signs of a leaking gutter is a drip, or several of them.
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 a hidden leak. These tiny leaks will happen if a fastener has become loose (see the next item below).
Visible Fasteners – Finding nails and screws wiggling their way out of the gutters means a leak will start soon, if it hasn’t already. The area where the nail or screw fits starts to become a new area where water can escape if the fastener starts to fall out.
Sometimes the answer is as simple as tightening them, but it could also be important to cover the hole so no water can leak from around the screw or nail, even after it is tightened again. You can buy this sealant, or let a gutter repair company put it on.
Water Stains or Rust – Water leaves evidence behind, especially if it is constantly or frequently there. Darker water stains appear because dirt and other debris stick to the wet surface better than on a drier one.
Rust is the product of nearly constant moisture, and the more severe sign you’ll notice after you see water stains. water stains on gutters can be cleaned and the gutters fixed, 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 storm, and you haven’t had a tree limb fall on top of your roof, but you’re beginning to notice paint flaking, cracking in the foundation or walkways, rotting wood on your porch or deck, or moldy window sills, you may have a gutter leak.
These are all indications that water has been leaking from a place it shouldn’t. They also go hand in hand with older building materials, so all of these factors need to be taken into account when inspecting gutters for leaks.
Other gutter issues…
Not every gutter issue leads to major repairs. If you see these common gutter issues, a leak may not be the problem.
Rain Overflow – This issue is a pretty easy fix. It’s probably not a gutter leak, but a clog that should be removed. You can do this or hire a Wilkes-Barre gutter cleaning service – even a general handyman – to clean out the gutters.
Animal Nests – A bird, squirrel, chipmunk can build a nest in your gutters or in your downspout, which will also 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 puddling – if you don’t get rid of the nest.
Trees & Plants – A tree can easily take root in your rain gutter with minimal debris present. While it may be little now, a sapling will sprout strong roots that can damage 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 immediately. By checking all of your gutters and downspouts, you can tell if there’s a reason for concern.
This is where a professional gutter service in Wilkes-Barre can be helpful. They can determine if gutter replacement is required or if you can get by with repairs to lengthen the lifetime of your gutters. Sometimes, gutter cleaning is the only thing that’s needed.
Homeowners can choose to do basic gutter care, like gutter cleaning, themselves. Although it is time consuming and somewhat dangerous, they are willing to complete the project 1-2 times each year to save a little money.
However, anything beyond basic gutter cleaning is best left to professionals.
Start by finding a gutter specialist with excellent customer reviews like Wilkes-Barre Gutter Solutions. Then let us do an inspection to accurately diagnose the problem. We offer free inspections for potential customers.
If there are any repairs to be made, or if we think that it’s time for gutter replacement, 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!