Are Your Gutters Leaking?
Rain Gutters are very important because – although they are simple and relatively inexpensive – they protect more valuable home investments, like the roof, foundation and windows. Maintaining and cleaning rain gutters is an easy way to help protect your home from damages.
And it’s much simpler than you might think.
Finding a leak in your gutters early can protect your entire home. Below, we’ve provided a few indicators that you can be on the lookout for (without calling a roof specialist) to determine if you have a gutter leaking.
How to Identify a Leaking Gutter
There are a lot of warning signs that indicate leaking gutters, even if you don’t physically notice water dripping. You can do an inspection from the lawn to determine if the signs of a gutter leak are there.
Here are some things to look for:
Obvious Flaws – When the gutters pull away from the roof, it causes stress on the connectors. Cracks can be caused by poor installation, poor quality materials, storm damage or age. Cracks in the gutter channel or seeing any part of them pulling away from the roofing may not be causing a leak just yet, but will definitely create issues. Having these defects repaired is much more affordable than replacing gutters or any of the possible damages a leak can cause.
Pooling – If water is pooling around your home, it’s a possible sign that a gutter leak is probably 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 harmful for the foundation. It’s also bad for landscaping and might cause windows to leak.
Drips – One of the most visible 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 of the gutter and it isn’t a big overflow, there is an unseen leak somewhere. These minor leaks can occur if a fastener has become loose (see the next item below).
Visible Fasteners – Seeing nails and screws wiggling their way out of the rain gutters likely means a leak is going to begin soon, if it hasn’t already. The hole where the nail or screw fits in starts to become 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 might also be necessary to cover the hole so no water can leak from the edge of the screw or the nail, even after it is back in place. You can purchase this type of sealant, or let a gutter repair company put it on.
Water Stains or Rust – Water leaves behind evidence, especially when it is constantly or frequently present. Darker water stains appear because dirt and other debris adhere to the wet surface better than on a drier one.
Rust is the product of nearly constant moisture, and the more extreme sign you’ll see after you see water stains. water stains can be cleaned away and the gutters can be fixed, but if the gutters are rusty, they will definitely have to be repaired or be replaced.
Unexplained Home Damage – If there hasn’t 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 porch or deck, or mold on your window sills, you may have leaking gutters.
These are all indications that water has been leaking from somewhere it shouldn’t be. They also are related to older building materials, so all factors should be taken into account when inspecting gutters for leaks.
Other gutter issues…
Not all gutter issues lead to major repairs. If you see these common gutter issues, a leak may not be the problem.
Rain Overflow – This issue is usually an easy fix. It’s likely not a leak, but a clog that needs to be removed. You can do this or hire a Cleveland Heights gutter cleaning company – 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 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 pooling – 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 sapling will sprout strong roots that can damage aluminum gutters before you know it.
Professional Gutter Repair
Any of these obvious signs indicate there are issues with your rain gutter that must be addressed right away. By quickly checking all of your gutters and downspouts, you can see if there’s a reason for concern.
This is where a professional gutter service in Cleveland Heights can be of great help. They can determine if gutter replacement is necessary or if you can get by with repairs to lengthen the life of your gutters. Sometimes, gutter cleaning is all that’s needed.
Homeowners can choose to do simple gutter care, like gutter cleaning, on their own. Although it is time consuming and dangerous, they are ready to take on the project a couple of times a year to save a little money.
However, any job beyond basic gutter cleaning is best left to professionals.
Start by finding a gutter specialist with good customer reviews like Cleveland Heights Gutter Cleaning. Then let us do an inspection to accurately diagnose the problem. We provide free inspections for new customers.
If there are gutter 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!