Are Your Gutters Leaking?
Rain Gutters are very important because – although they are simple and relatively inexpensive – they protect more valuable home components, like the roof, foundation and windows. Maintaining and cleaning gutters is an easy way to help prevent your house from major damages.
And it’s really much simpler than you probably think.
Finding a gutter leak early can protect an entire house. Below, we’ve provided a few indicators that you can be on the lookout for (without hiring a roofer) to determine if there is a leak in your gutters.
How to Identify a Gutter Leak
There are a lot of signs that point to a gutter leak, even if you don’t actually notice water dripping. You can do a visual inspection from the lawn to determine if the signs of a leaking gutter are there.
Here’s what to look for:
Visible Flaws – When the gutters pull away from the home, it stresses the connectors. Cracks can be caused by 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 roof might not cause a leak yet, but these things will ultimately create issues. Getting these defects fixed is affordable than gutter replacement or any of the potential damages a leak can cause.
Pooling – If rain is pooling around your home, it’s a sign that a gutter leak is probably present. You should also check underground pipes, water spigots and any water source that is near your home, just to be careful.
Pooling water by your house can be very harmful 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 of them.
A drip from your rain gutter indicates a clog, but if it’s coming from the bottom and it isn’t overflowing, there is a hidden leak. These small leaks can happen if a fastener has gotten loose (see the next item on our list).
Visible Fasteners – Finding nails and screws working their way out of the gutters means a leak will start soon, if it hasn’t already. The hole 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 might also be necessary to cover the hole so no more water can leak from the edge of the screw or nail, even after it is tightened again. You can purchase this sealant, or let a gutter repair company apply it.
Water Stains or Rust – Water leaves behind evidence, especially if it is consistently or frequently present. Dark water stains will appear because dirt and other materials stick to the moist surface better than it would a dry one.
Rust is the result of nearly constant moisture, and the more severe sign you’ll notice after you see water stains. water stains can be cleaned away and the gutters can be repaired, but if gutters are rusty, they definitely need 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 your roof, but you’re starting to notice paint flaking, cracking in the foundation around the downspouts or walkways, rotting wood on your porch or deck, or moldy window sills, you could have leaking gutters.
These are all signs that water has been leaking from a place it shouldn’t. They also are related to aging building materials, so all factors should be considered when inspecting gutters for leaks.
Other gutter issues…
Not every gutter issue leads to major repairs. If you see these gutter issues, a gutter leak might not be the issue.
Rain Overflow – This one is a pretty simple fix. It’s probably not a leak, but a clog that should be removed. You can do this or hire a Arlington gutter cleaning service – or even a general handyman – to clean them out.
Animal Nests – A small bird, squirrel, chipmunk can quickly build a nest in your rain gutters or in your downspout, which can also cause overflow. Once the nest has been there awhile, you will start seeing some of the above signs of a leak in a gutter – like rust or pooling – if you don’t get rid of the nest.
Trees & Plants – A tree can easily take root in your rain gutter with small amounts of 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 quickly checking your gutters and downspouts, you can tell if there’s a reason for concern.
This is when a gutter service in Arlington can be of great help. They can distinguish if gutter replacement is necessary or if you can get by with repairs to extend the life of your gutters. Sometimes, basic gutter cleaning is all that’s needed.
Some homeowners decide to do basic gutter care and maintenance, such as gutter cleaning, themselves. Although it it can be time consuming and dangerous, they are willing to take on the chore 1-2 times a year to save a little money.
However, anything beyond simple gutter cleaning should be left to the professionals.
Start by calling a gutter service with excellent customer reviews like Arlington Gutter Service. Then let us do a full inspection to accurately diagnose the issue. 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!