Are Your Gutters Leaking?
Gutters are so important because – while they are simple and inexpensive – they protect more valuable home assets, such as the roof, foundation and windows. Taking care of and cleaning gutters is an easy way to prevent your home from damages.
And it’s a lot easier than you probably think.
Finding a leak in your gutters early can protect the entire home. In this blog post, we’ve listed a few indicators that you can be on the lookout for (without calling a roofer) to see if there is a leak in your gutters.
How to Identify Leaking Gutters
There are many signs that indicate a gutter leak, even if you don’t physically notice water dripping. You can do an inspection from the safety of your lawn to determine if the signs of a leaking gutter are there.
Here’s what to keep an eye out for:
Obvious Flaws – When the gutters pull away from the house, it stresses the connections. Cracks can be caused by faulty installation, poor quality materials, damage or general wear and tear. Cracks in the gutter or seeing any section of them pulling away from the roof may not be causing a leak yet, but will ultimately lead to issues. Having these defects repaired is much more affordable than installing new gutters or any of the damages a leak can lead to.
Pooling Water – If rain is pooling around your house, it’s a sign that a gutter leak is present. But you should also check pipes, water spigots and any other water source that is close to your house, just to be careful.
Pooling water near your house can be very harmful for the foundation. It’s also bad for landscaping and can cause your windows to leak.
Dripping – One of the more noticeable signs of a leaking gutter is a drip, or several drips.
A drip coming from your rain gutter could indicate a clog, but if it’s coming from the bottom of the gutter and it isn’t a big overflow, there is a hidden leak. These tiny leaks will happen if a fastener has gotten loose (see the next item on our list).
Visible Fasteners – Seeing nails and screws working their way out of the rain gutters likely means a leak will begin soon, if it hasn’t already. The area where the nail or screw fits in starts to become a new area where water can get out if the fastener works its way out.
Sometimes the answer is as easy as tightening them, but it can also be important to cover the hole so no more water can escape from the edge of the screw or nail, even after it is tightened again. You can buy this sealant, or let a gutter repair company apply it.
Water Stains or Rust – Water leaves evidence behind, especially when it is constantly or frequently present. Dark water stains appear because dirt and other debris stick to the wet surface better than it would a drier one.
Rust is the result of constant moisture, and the more severe sign you’ll see after water stains. Most 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 be 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 beginning to see paint flaking, cracking in the foundation around the downspouts or walkways, rotting wood on your porch or deck, or moldy window sills, you may have leaking gutters.
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 factors should be factored in when inspecting gutters for leaks.
Other gutter issues…
Not all gutter issues lead to home repairs. If you see these gutter issues, a leak might not be the issue.
Rain Overflow – This one is typically an easy fix. It’s likely not a gutter leak, but a clog that should be cleaned out. You can do this yourself or hire a Marlborough gutter cleaning service – even a general handyman – to clean them out.
Animal Nests – A small bird, squirrel, chipmunk or other pest can quickly build a nest in your rain gutters or downspout, which will 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 it.
Trees & Plants – A tree can take root in your gutter with minimal debris present. While it may be small now, a tree sapling will sprout really strong roots that can destroy aluminum gutters before you even know it.
Professional Gutter Repair
Any of these easy-to-see signs mean there are problems with your gutter that need 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 professional gutter service in Marlborough can be of great help. They can distinguish whether gutter replacement is required or if you can get by with repairs to lengthen the life of your gutters. Sometimes, basic gutter cleaning is the only thing that’s needed.
Homeowners can decide to do basic gutter care and maintenance, like gutter cleaning, on their own. Although it is time consuming and somewhat dangerous, they are willing to complete the project 1-2 times a year to save a little money.
However, any job beyond gutter cleaning is best left to the professionals.
Start by hiring a gutter specialist with excellent customer reviews like MCC Gutter Cleaning. Then let us do an inspection to accurately diagnose the problem. We offer free inspections for potential customers.
If there are 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 will save you a lot of time and trouble in the long run!