Are Your Gutters Leaking?
Gutters are so important because – despite being simple and relatively inexpensive – they protect more valuable home investments, such as the roof, foundation and windows. Taking care of and cleaning rain gutters is an easy way to help prevent your home from major damages.
And it’s really much easier than you probably think.
Spotting a leak in your gutters early can protect the entire house. Here, we’ve listed a few signs that you can be on the lookout for (without calling a roofer) to see if your gutters may be leaking.
How to Identify a Gutter Leak
There are a lot of signs that suggest leaking gutters, even if you don’t see water dripping. You can do an inspection from the lawn to determine if the signs of a leaking gutter are present.
Here are some things to look for:
Visible Flaws – When gutters start to pull away from the home, it stresses the connectors. Cracks can be caused by poor installation, poor quality materials, storm damage or general wear and tear. Cracks in the gutter channel or seeing any part of them pulling away from the house may not cause a leak just yet, but will ultimately lead to problems. Having these defects repaired is affordable than installing new gutters or any of the damages a leak can lead to.
Pooling Water – If rain is pooling around your home, it’s a possible sign that a gutter leak is probably present. You should also check pipes, water spigots and any water source that is near your house, just to be sure.
Pooling water near your home can be especially 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 gutter leak 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 overflowing, there is a hidden 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 working their way out of the rain gutters means a leak is going to start 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 solution is as easy as tightening them, but it could also be necessary to cover the hole so no more water can escape from around the screw or 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 if it is constantly or frequently there. Dark water stains will appear because dirt and other materials stick to the wet surface better than on a dry one.
Rust is the product of constant moisture, and the more extreme sign you’ll see after you see water stains. water stains on gutters can be cleaned away and the gutters can be fixed, but if gutters are rusty, they will definitely have to be repaired or replaced.
Unexplained Home Damage – If there hasn’t recently been a severe storm, and you haven’t had a tree limb fall on top of your roof, but you’re starting to notice paint flaking, cracking in the foundation around the downspouts or walkways, decaying wood on your patio or deck, or mold on your window sills, you may have a gutter leak.
These are all indications 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 all gutter issues lead to home repairs. If you see these gutter issues, a gutter leak may not be the problem.
Rain Overflow – This one is a pretty simple fix. It’s probably not a leak, but a clog that needs to be removed. You can do this or hire a Maple Grove gutter cleaning company – or 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 downspout, which can 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 puddling – if you don’t get rid of the nest.
Trees & Plants – A tree can easily take root in your gutter with small amounts of debris present. While it may be little now, a sapling will sprout really strong roots that can damage aluminum gutters before you know it.
Professional Gutter Repair
Any of these visible signs mean there are problems with your rain gutter that must be addressed immediately. By checking your gutters and downspouts, you can tell if there’s a reason for concern.
This is where a professional gutter service in Maple Grove can be of great help. They can distinguish if gutter replacement is necessary or if you can get by with repairs to lengthen the life of your home’s gutters. Sometimes, gutter cleaning is the only thing that’s needed.
Some homeowners choose to do simple gutter care, like gutter cleaning, on their own. Although it is time consuming and sometimes dangerous, they are ready to take on the chore a couple of times each year to save some money.
However, any job beyond basic gutter cleaning is best left to the professionals.
Start by finding a gutter service with excellent customer reviews like Maple Grove Gutters. Then let us do an inspection to correctly diagnose the issue. We provide free inspections for potential customers.
If there are repairs to be made, or if we feel that it’s time to install new gutters, 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!