Are Your Gutters Leaking?
Gutters are important because – despite being simple and inexpensive – they protect valuable home assets, such as the roof, foundation and windows. Taking care of and cleaning rain gutters is an easy way to protect your home from major damages.
And it’s really much simpler than you probably think.
Finding a gutter leak early can protect your entire house. Below, we’ve provided a few indicators that you can look for (without hiring a roofer) to determine if there is a leak in your gutters.
How to Identify a Leaking Gutter
There are a number of warning signs that point to a leaking gutter, even if you don’t notice water dripping. You can do an inspection from the ground to decide if the signs of a gutter leak are present.
Here’s what to look for:
Visible Flaws – When gutters begin to pull away from the roof, it stresses the connectors. Cracks can be caused by poor installation, poor quality materials, damage or age. Cracks in the gutter channel or seeing any section of them pulling away from the roof might not cause a leak yet, but will certainly create issues. Having these defects fixed is more affordable than gutter replacement or any of the potential damages a leak can lead to.
Pooling Water – If water is puddling around your home, it’s a sign that a gutter leak is present. You should also check pipes, water spigots and any water source that is close to your house, just to be sure.
Pooling water near your home can be especially bad for the foundation. It’s also bad for landscaping and could cause windows to leak.
Dripping – One of the most obvious signs of gutter leaks is a drip, or several drips.
A drip coming from your rain gutter is likely a clog, but if it’s coming from the bottom and it isn’t a big overflow, there is a hidden leak somewhere. These minor leaks will happen if a fastener has gotten loose (see the next item on our list).
Visible Fasteners – Seeing nails and screws wiggling their way out of the gutters likely means a leak is going to begin soon, if it hasn’t already. The area where the nail or screw fits starts to become a new area where water can get out if the fastener works its way out.
Sometimes the solution is as easy as tightening them, but it might also be important to seal the hole so no water can escape from the edge of the screw or the 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 – Water leaves evidence behind, especially when it is constantly or frequently present. Dark water stains will appear because dirt and other debris adhere to the wet surface better than it would a drier one.
Rust is the result of nearly constant moisture, and the more severe sign you’ll notice after water stains. water stains on gutters can be cleaned and the gutters can be fixed, but if the gutters are rusty, they will definitely need to be repaired or replaced.
Unexplained Home Damage – If there hasn’t been a storm, and you haven’t had a tree limb fall on your roof, but you’re beginning to see paint flaking, cracking in the foundation around the downspouts or walkways, rotting wood on your patio 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 be. They also go hand in hand with older building materials, so all factors need to be taken into account when inspecting gutters for leaks.
Other gutter issues…
Not every gutter issue leads to home repairs. If you see these gutter issues, a gutter leak may not be the issue.
Rain Overflow – This one is a pretty simple fix. It’s probably not a leak, but a clog that has to be cleaned out. You can do this yourself or hire a Mount Pleasant gutter cleaning company – or even a general handyman – to clean them out.
Animal Nests – A small bird, squirrel, chipmunk or another pest can quickly build a nest in your rain gutters or 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 it.
Trees & Plants – A tree can easily take root in your gutter with minimal debris present. While it may be small now, a tree sapling will sprout 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 gutter that have to be addressed right away. By checking all of your gutters and downspouts, you can see if there’s a reason for concern.
This is where a gutter service in Mount Pleasant can be helpful. They can determine whether gutter replacement is necessary or if you can get by with repairs to lengthen the lifetime of your gutters. Sometimes, basic gutter cleaning is the only thing that’s needed.
Homeowners can choose to do basic gutter care, such as gutter cleaning, themselves. Although it it can be time consuming and sometimes dangerous, they are ready to complete the chore a couple of times a year to save a little money.
However, anything beyond simple gutter cleaning is best left to the professionals.
Start by calling a gutter service with excellent customer reviews like Mount Pleasant Gutters. Then let us do an inspection to correctly determine the issue. We provide free inspections for potential customers.
If there are any gutter repairs to be made, or if we think that it’s time to install new gutters, you can count on us to get the job done right. Our gutter repair service will save you a lot of time and trouble in the long run!