Are Your Gutters Leaking?
Gutters are really important because – despite being simple and relatively inexpensive – they protect more valuable home components, such as the roof, foundation and windows. Caring for and cleaning gutters is an easy way to protect your house from damages.
And it’s really much simpler than you probably think.
Finding a leaking gutter early can protect the entire home. Here, we’ve provided a few signs that you can look for (without calling a roof specialist) to see if your gutters are leaking.
How to Identify a Leaking Gutter
There are many signs that suggest a leaking gutter, even if you don’t physically notice water dripping. You can do a visual inspection from the safety of your lawn to decide if the signs of a leaking gutter are there.
Here’s what to look for:
Obvious Flaws – When gutters begin to pull away from the roof, it stresses the connectors. Cracks can be the result of poor installation, low quality materials, storm damage or general wear and tear. Cracks in the gutter or seeing any section of them pulling away from the house might not be causing a leak just yet, but these things will definitely create problems. Having these defects fixed is affordable than gutter replacement or any of the potential damages a leak can cause.
Pooling Water – If water is puddling around your house, it’s a possible sign that a gutter leak is present. You should also check underground pipes, water spigots and any water source that is near your house, just in case.
Pooling water near your home can be very damaging for the foundation. It’s also bad for landscaping and can cause your windows to leak.
Dripping – One of the more noticeable signs of gutter leaks is a drip, or several drips.
A drip 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 an unseen leak. These minor leaks will happen if a fastener has gotten loose (see the next item below).
Visible Fasteners – Finding nails and screws working their way out of the rain gutters means a leak is going to begin soon, if it hasn’t already. The area where the nail or screw fits in becomes a new area where water can get out 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 around 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 – Moisture leaves behind evidence, especially if it is consistently or frequently present. Dark water stains will appear because dirt and other debris stick to the moist surface better than on a dry one.
Rust is the product of constant moisture, and the more extreme sign you’ll notice after water stains. water stains can be cleaned away and the gutters fixed, but if gutters are rusty, they will definitely have to be repaired or be replaced.
Unexplained Home Damage – If there hasn’t been a severe storm, and you haven’t had a limb fall on top of your roof, but you’re starting to notice paint flaking, cracking in the foundation 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. They also are related to aging building materials, so all of these 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 problem.
Rain Overflow – This issue is a pretty simple fix. It’s probably not a leak, but a clog that needs to be cleaned out. You can do this yourself or hire a Bowling Green 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 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 leaks – like rust or pooling – if you don’t get rid of it.
Trees & Plants – A tree can take root in your rain gutter with small amounts of 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 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 reason for concern.
This is when a gutter service in Bowling Green can be helpful. They can determine if gutter replacement is required or if you can get by with repairs to lengthen the life of your home’s gutters. Sometimes, basic gutter cleaning is the only thing that’s needed.
Some homeowners decide to do basic gutter care and maintenance, such as gutter cleaning, themselves. Although it is time consuming and sometimes dangerous, they are willing to take on the chore a couple of times a year to save some money.
However, any job beyond gutter cleaning is best left to the professionals.
Start by finding a gutter service with excellent customer reviews like Better Bowling Green Gutters. Then let us do a full inspection to accurately diagnose the problem. We offer free inspections for potential 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!