Are Your Gutters Leaking?
Gutters are really important because – although they are simple and inexpensive – they protect valuable home investments, like the roof, foundation and windows. Maintaining and cleaning rain gutters is an easy way to prevent your home from damages.
And it’s much easier than you might think.
Finding a leaking gutter early can protect an entire house. Below, we’ve listed a few signs that you can look for (without hiring a roofer) to determine if your gutters may be leaking.
How to Identify a Leaking Gutter
There are several signs that indicate a leaking gutter, even if you don’t see water dripping. You can do an inspection from the ground to determine if the signs of a gutter leak are there.
Here’s what to look for:
Visible Flaws – When the gutters pull away from the roof, it causes stress on the fasteners. Cracks can be the result of poor 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 house might not be causing a leak yet, but will certainly create issues. Having these defects repaired is affordable than gutter replacement or any of the possible damages a leak can lead to.
Pooling – If water is puddling around your house, it’s a possible sign that a gutter leak is present. You should also check underground pipes, water spigots and any other water source that is close to your house, just in case.
Pooling water near your home can be really bad for the foundation. It’s also bad for landscaping and could cause your windows to leak.
Drips – One of the more noticeable signs of a gutter leak is a drip, or several of them.
A drip from your rain 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 can happen if a fastener has become loose (see the next item on our list).
Visible Fasteners – Seeing nails and screws working their way out of the rain gutters means a leak is going to begin soon, if it hasn’t already. The area where the nail or screw fits in becomes a new area where water can get out if the fastener starts to fall out.
Sometimes the solution is as simple as refastening them, but it may also be necessary to cover the hole so no water can escape from the edge of the screw or the 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 present. Dark water stains will appear because dirt and other organic debris adhere to the wet surface better than on a drier one.
Rust is the product of constant moisture, and the more extreme sign you’ll see after you see water stains. water stains can be cleaned and the gutters fixed, but if the gutters are rusty, they definitely need to be repaired or be 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 beginning to notice paint flaking, cracking in the foundation around the downspouts or walkways, decaying wood on your patio or deck, or moldy window sills, you might 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 aging building materials, so all factors should be factored in when inspecting gutters for leaks.
Other gutter issues…
Not all gutter issues lead to major repairs. If you see these gutter issues, a leak might not be the problem.
Rain Overflow – This issue is typically an easy fix. It’s likely not a leak, but a clog that has to be cleaned out. You can do this or hire a Olympia gutter cleaning service – even a general handyman – to clean them out.
Animal Nests – A small bird, squirrel, chipmunk can build a nest in your rain gutters or in your downspout, which can cause overflow. Once the nest has been there for a little 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 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 even know it.
Professional Gutter Repair
Any of these easy-to-see signs indicate there are problems with your rain gutter that have to be addressed right away. By checking your gutters and downspouts, you can tell if there’s a cause for concern.
This is where a gutter service in Olympia can be of great help. They can determine if gutter replacement is required or if you can get by with repairs to extend the lifetime of your home’s gutters. Sometimes, basic gutter cleaning is all that’s needed.
Some homeowners choose to do basic gutter care and maintenance, such as gutter cleaning, on their own. Although it it can be time consuming and somewhat dangerous, they are eager to complete the chore 1-2 times each year to save a little money.
However, anything beyond gutter cleaning is best left to the professionals.
Start by hiring a gutter service with good customer reviews like Olympia Gutters & More!. Then let us do an inspection to correctly determine the issue. We offer free inspections for new customers.
If there are any gutter repairs to be made, or if we believe that it’s time to install new gutters, you can count on us to get the job done. Our gutter repair service can save you a lot of time and trouble in the long run!