Are Your Gutters Leaking?
Gutters are so important because – while they are simple and relatively inexpensive – they protect valuable home assets, such as the roof, foundation and windows. Maintaining and cleaning gutters is an easy way to protect your house from major damages.
And it’s a lot easier than you might think.
Identifying a leaking gutter early can protect an entire home. Here, we’ve listed a few signs 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 a Leaking Gutter
There are a number of signs that suggest leaking gutters, even if you don’t physically see water dripping. You can do an inspection from the safety of your lawn to determine if the signs of a gutter leak are there.
Here’s what to look for:
Obvious Flaws – When gutters start to pull away from the roof, it causes stress on the connectors. Cracks can be caused by faulty installation, low quality materials, storm damage or age. Cracks in the gutter or seeing any section of them pulling away from the house might not be causing a leak just yet, but will certainly lead to issues. Getting these defects repaired is much more affordable than replacing gutters or any of the damages a leak can cause.
Pooling Water – If water is puddling around your home, 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 near your house, just to be sure.
Pooling water around your home can be bad for the foundation. It’s also bad for landscaping and might cause windows to leak.
Drips – One of the most obvious signs of a leaking gutter is a drip, or several drips.
A drip from your gutter indicates a clog, but if it’s coming from the bottom of the gutter and it isn’t overflowing, there is a hidden leak somewhere. These tiny leaks can occur if a fastener has gotten loose (see the next item below).
Visible Fasteners – Seeing nails and screws working their way out of the gutters means a leak is going to start soon, if it hasn’t already. The hole where the nail or screw fits in becomes a new area where water can escape if the fastener starts to fall out.
Sometimes the solution is as easy as tightening them, but it may also be necessary 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 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 organic materials adhere to the wet surface better than it would a dry one.
Rust is the product of nearly constant moisture, and the more severe sign you’ll notice after water stains. Most water stains can be cleaned and the gutters can be fixed, but if gutters are rusty, they will definitely need to be repaired or replaced.
Unexplained Home Damage – If there hasn’t been a severe 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 a gutter leak.
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 of these factors should be considered 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 one is usually an easy fix. It’s likely not a gutter leak, but a clog that should be removed. You can do this or hire a San Ramon gutter cleaning company – 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 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 pooling – if you don’t get rid of the nest.
Trees & Plants – A tree can easily take root in your rain gutter with little debris present. While it may be small now, a sapling will sprout really strong roots that can destroy aluminum gutters before you know it.
Professional Gutter Repair
Any of these obvious signs mean there are problems with your gutter that have to be addressed right away. By quickly checking all of your gutters and downspouts, you can tell if there’s a cause for concern.
This is when a professional gutter service in San Ramon can be of great help. They can determine whether gutter replacement is required or if you can get by with repairs to extend the lifetime of your home’s gutters. Sometimes, gutter cleaning is all that’s needed.
Homeowners can choose to do basic gutter care and maintenance, such as gutter cleaning, themselves. Although it is time consuming and dangerous, they are ready to take on the chore 1-2 times each year to save some money.
However, anything beyond simple gutter cleaning should be left to the professionals.
Start by calling a gutter specialist with excellent customer reviews like Simply San Ramon Gutters. Then let us do an inspection to accurately determine the issue. We offer free inspections for potential customers.
If there are any gutter repairs to be made, or if we believe that it’s time for gutter replacement, you can trust us to get the job done right. Our gutter repair service can save you a lot of time and trouble in the long run!