Are Your Gutters Leaking?

Rain Gutters are so important because – although they are simple and relatively inexpensive – they protect more valuable home investments, such as the roof, foundation and windows. Taking care of and cleaning gutters is an easy way to protect your home from major damages.

And it’s really a lot easier than you probably think.

Spotting a leaking gutter early can protect the entire house. In this blog post, we’ve listed a few signs that you can be on the lookout for (without hiring a roof specialist) to see if you have a gutter leaking.

How to Identify a Leaking Gutter

There are a lot of signs that suggest leaking gutters, even if you don’t physically notice water dripping. You can do a visual inspection from the ground to decide if the signs of a gutter leak are there.

Here are some things to look for:

Visible Flaws – When gutters start to pull away from the home, it stresses the fasteners. Cracks can be the result of poor installation, low quality materials, damage or age. Cracks in the gutter channel or seeing any section of them pulling away from the roof might not cause a leak yet, but will definitely cause issues. Having these defects repaired is affordable than installing new gutters or any of the potential damages a leak can lead to.

Pooling – If water is pooling around your home, it’s a sign that a gutter leak is present. You should also check underground pipes, water spigots and any water source that is close to your house, just to be sure.

Pooling water around your home can be very harmful for the foundation. It’s also bad for landscaping and can cause your windows to leak.

Dripping – One of the most visible signs of a leaking gutter is a drip, or several of them.

A drip coming from your gutter is likely 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. These minor leaks can happen if a fastener has become loose (see the next item on our list).

Visible Fasteners – Finding nails and screws wiggling their way out of the rain gutters likely 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 get out if the fastener works its way out.

Sometimes the solution is as easy as refastening them, but it can also be important to seal the hole so no more water can escape from the edge of the screw or the nail, even after it is back in place. You can buy this 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 there. Darker water stains will appear because dirt and other debris adhere to the moist surface better than it would a dry one.

Rust is the product of constant moisture, and the more extreme sign you’ll see after you see water stains. Most water stains on gutters can be cleaned and the gutters repaired, but if 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 top of your roof, but you’re beginning to notice paint flaking, cracking in the foundation around the downspouts or walkways, rotting wood on your patio or deck, or mold on your window sills, you might have leaking gutters.

These are all indications that water has been leaking from somewhere it shouldn’t be. They also go hand in hand with older building materials, so all factors need to be factored in when inspecting gutters for leaks.

Other gutter issues…

Not all gutter issues lead to home repairs. If you see these common gutter issues, a gutter leak may not be the issue.

Rain Overflow – This one is a pretty easy fix. It’s likely not a gutter leak, but a clog that should be cleaned out. You can do this or hire a Worcester 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 gutters or in your downspout, which can also cause overflow. Once the nest has been there for a little while, 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 minimal debris present. While it may be little 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 mean there are issues with your gutter that must be addressed immediately. By quickly checking all of your gutters and downspouts, you can tell if there’s a reason for concern.

This is where a professional gutter service in Worcester can be helpful. They can determine whether gutter replacement is required or if you can get by with repairs to extend the life of your gutters. Sometimes, basic gutter cleaning is the only thing that’s needed.

Some homeowners decide to do basic gutter care, like gutter cleaning, on their own. Although it it can be time consuming and dangerous, they are eager to take on the chore 1-2 times each year to save some money.

However, anything beyond basic gutter cleaning should be left to the professionals.

Start by calling a gutter service with good customer reviews like WeClean Worcester Gutters. Then let us do an inspection to correctly diagnose the problem. We offer free inspections for new customers.

If there are gutter repairs to be made, or if we believe that it’s time to install new gutters, you can trust us to get the job done. Our gutter repair service will save you a lot of time and trouble in the long run!