Are Your Gutters Leaking?
Gutters are very important because – despite being simple and relatively inexpensive – they protect valuable home components, such as the roof, foundation and windows. Taking care of and cleaning gutters is an easy way to help prevent your home from damages.
And it’s really much simpler than you probably think.
Finding a leak in your gutters early can protect an entire home. Below, we’ve provided a few signs that you can be on the lookout for (without calling a roof specialist) to see if you have a gutter leaking.
How to Identify a Gutter Leak
There are a number of signs that suggest a gutter leak, even if you don’t actually notice water dripping. You can do an inspection from the lawn to determine if the signs of a gutter leak are there.
Here’s what to look for:
Visible Flaws – When gutters begin to pull away from the house, it causes stress on the connections. Cracks can be the result of faulty installation, low quality materials, damage or age. Cracks in the gutter or seeing any part of them pulling away from the roofing might not be causing a leak yet, but will certainly create issues. Having these defects fixed is much more affordable than installing new gutters or any of the possible damages a leak can cause.
Pooling – If water is puddling around your house, it’s a possible sign that a gutter leak is probably present. You should also check pipes, water spigots and any other water source that is close to your home, just in case.
Pooling water near your house can be really bad for the foundation. It’s also bad for landscaping and might cause windows to leak.
Dripping – One of the most obvious signs of gutter leaks is a drip, or several drips.
A drip 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 somewhere. These minor leaks can happen if a fastener has become loose (see the next item below).
Visible Fasteners – Finding nails and screws wiggling their way out of the 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 answer is as easy as tightening them, but it may also be important to cover the hole so no more water can escape from around the screw or the 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 consistently or frequently there. Darker water stains will appear because dirt and other organic debris adhere to the moist surface better than on a dry one.
Rust is the result of constant moisture, and the more severe sign you’ll notice after you see water stains. Most water stains on gutters can be cleaned away and the gutters can be repaired, but if gutters are rusty, they 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 or walkways, rotting wood on your porch or deck, or moldy window sills, you could have leaking gutters.
These are all signs that water has been leaking from a place it shouldn’t be. They also go hand in hand with aging building materials, so all factors should be taken into account when inspecting gutters for leaks.
Other gutter issues…
Not every gutter issue leads to home repairs. If you see these gutter issues, a gutter leak may not be the problem.
Rain Overflow – This issue is a pretty simple fix. It’s probably not a gutter leak, but a clog that should be cleaned out. You can do this or hire a Haverhill gutter cleaning company – or even a general handyman – to clean them out.
Animal Nests – A small bird, squirrel, chipmunk can build a nest in your gutters or in your downspout, which will also cause overflow. Once the nest has been there awhile, 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 gutter with small amounts of debris present. While it may be small now, a tree sapling will sprout strong roots that can damage aluminum gutters before you know it.
Professional Gutter Repair
Any of these visible signs indicate there are issues 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 reason for concern.
This is when a gutter service in Haverhill can be helpful. 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 the only thing that’s needed.
Homeowners can decide to do simple gutter care and maintenance, such as gutter cleaning, themselves. 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, anything beyond simple gutter cleaning should be left to the professionals.
Start by finding a gutter service with excellent customer reviews like Haverhill Gutters. Then let us do a full inspection to accurately determine the problem. We offer free inspections for potential customers.
If there are any repairs to be made, or if we think that it’s time to install new gutters, you can count on us to get the job done right. Our gutter repair service will save you a lot of time and trouble in the long run!