Are Your Gutters Leaking?
Gutters are very important because – despite being simple and inexpensive – they protect more valuable home investments, like the roof, foundation and windows. Taking care of and cleaning rain gutters is an easy way to prevent your house from major damages.
And it’s a lot easier than you probably think.
Finding a gutter leak early can protect your entire home. Here, we’ve provided a few signs that you can be on the lookout for (without calling a roof specialist) to determine if there is a leak in your gutters.
How to Identify Leaking Gutters
There are several signs that suggest a leaking gutter, even if you don’t actually notice water dripping. You can do a visual inspection from the lawn to determine if the signs of a gutter leak are there.
Here’s what to look for:
Visible Flaws – When the gutters pull away from the house, it causes stress on the fasteners. Cracks can be caused by faulty installation, low quality materials, damage or age. Cracks in the gutter or seeing any section of them pulling away from the roofing may not be causing a leak just yet, but will definitely create problems. Having these defects fixed is a lot more affordable than installing new gutters or any of the damages a leak can lead to.
Pooling – If water is puddling around your house, it’s a sign that a gutter leak is probably present. You should also check underground pipes, water spigots and any other water source that is close to your home, just to be sure.
Pooling water by your home can be really damaging for the foundation. It’s also bad for landscaping and can cause your windows to leak.
Dripping – One of the most obvious signs of a leaking gutter is a drip, or several of them.
A drip coming from your rain gutter could indicate a clog, but if it’s coming from the bottom and it isn’t a big overflow, there is a hidden leak somewhere. These minor leaks can occur if a fastener has gotten loose (see the next item on our list).
Visible Fasteners – Seeing nails and screws working their way out of the rain gutters likely means a leak will start soon, if it hasn’t already. The hole where the nail or screw fits becomes a new area where water can escape if the fastener works its way out.
Sometimes the solution is as simple as refastening them, but it may also be important to cover the hole so no water can escape from the edge of the screw or nail, even after it is back in place. You can purchase this type of sealant, or let a gutter repair company put it on.
Water Stains or Rust – Water leaves evidence behind, especially when it is constantly or frequently present. Dark water stains will appear because dirt and other debris adhere to the wet surface better than on a drier one.
Rust is the result of nearly constant moisture, and the more severe sign you’ll see after you see water stains. water stains on gutters can be cleaned away and the gutters fixed, 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 see 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 a place it shouldn’t. They also are related to older building materials, so all factors need to be taken into account when inspecting gutters for leaks.
Other gutter issues…
Not all gutter issues lead to major 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 likely not a leak, but a clog that has to be removed. You can do this yourself or hire a Santa Rosa gutter cleaning company – even a general handyman – to clean them out.
Animal Nests – A small bird, squirrel, chipmunk can quickly build a nest in your gutters or downspout, which will cause overflow. Once the nest has been there awhile, you will start to see some of the above signs of a leak in a gutter – like rust or puddling – if you don’t get rid of it.
Trees & Plants – A tree can take root in your gutter with minimal debris present. While it may be small now, a tree sapling will sprout strong roots that can destroy aluminum gutters before you know it.
Professional Gutter Repair
Any of these visible signs mean there are issues with your rain gutter that need to be addressed immediately. By quickly checking all of your gutters and downspouts, you can see if there’s a cause for concern.
This is when a professional gutter service in Santa Rosa 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, gutter cleaning is the only thing that’s needed.
Homeowners can choose to do basic gutter care and maintenance, like gutter cleaning, themselves. Although it is time consuming and dangerous, they are willing to take on the project a couple of times a year to save a little money.
However, any job beyond gutter cleaning is best left to the professionals.
Start by calling a gutter service with good customer reviews like Santa Rosa Gutter Service. Then let us do an inspection to accurately diagnose the problem. We offer free inspections for potential customers.
If there are any repairs to be made, or if we feel that it’s time to install new gutters, you can count on us to get the job done. Our gutter repair service can save you a lot of time and trouble in the long run!