Are Your Gutters Leaking?
Gutters are very important because – despite being simple and inexpensive – they protect valuable home components, like the roof, foundation and windows. Caring for and cleaning rain gutters is an easy way to prevent your home from damages.
And it’s really a lot simpler than you might think.
Identifying a gutter leak early can protect an entire house. In this blog post, we’ve listed a few indicators that you can be on the lookout for (without hiring a roofer) to see if your gutters may be leaking.
How to Identify Leaking Gutters
There are a number of warning signs that point to a leaking gutter, even if you don’t physically notice water dripping. You can do a visual inspection from the lawn to determine if the signs of a gutter leak are present.
Here’s what to keep an eye out for:
Obvious Flaws – When the gutters pull away from the roof, it stresses the fasteners. Cracks can be the result of poor installation, low quality materials, storm damage or age. Cracks in the gutter channel or seeing any section of them pulling away from the home might not be causing a leak just yet, but these things will certainly cause problems. Getting these defects fixed is a lot more affordable than replacing gutters or any of the possible damages a leak can cause.
Pooling – If water is puddling around your home, it’s a sign that a gutter leak is present. But 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 near your home can be very bad for the foundation. It’s also bad for landscaping and can cause windows to leak.
Drips – One of the most visible signs of a leaking gutter is a drip, or several of them.
A drip from your rain gutter is likely a clog, but if it’s coming from the bottom and it isn’t overflowing, there is an unseen leak somewhere. These minor leaks will occur if a fastener has gotten 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 will begin 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 answer is as easy as tightening them, but it can also be important to cover the hole so no water can escape from the edge of the screw or the nail, even after it is tightened again. You can buy this type of sealant, or let a gutter repair company put it on.
Water Stains or Rust – Moisture leaves evidence behind, especially when it is constantly or frequently there. Dark water stains will appear because dirt and other debris stick to the moist surface better than on a drier one.
Rust is the product of nearly constant moisture, and the more extreme sign you’ll notice after you see water stains. Most water stains can be cleaned 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 storm, and you haven’t had a tree limb fall on top of your roof, but you’re starting to see paint flaking, cracking in the foundation around the downspouts or walkways, rotting wood on your patio or deck, or moldy window sills, you might have a gutter leak.
These are all signs that water has been leaking from somewhere it shouldn’t be. They also go hand in hand with aging building materials, so all factors should be factored in 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 might not be the issue.
Rain Overflow – This issue is a pretty easy fix. It’s likely not a leak, but a clog that should be removed. You can do this or hire a Long Island gutter cleaning service – or even a general handyman – to clean out the gutters.
Animal Nests – A small bird, squirrel, chipmunk or other pest can build a nest in your gutters or downspout, which can also 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 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 small now, a sapling will sprout really strong roots that can destroy aluminum gutters before you know it.
Professional Gutter Repair
Any of these easy-to-see signs mean there are problems with your rain gutter that must 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 professional gutter service in Long Island can be of great help. They can determine if gutter replacement is required or if you can get by with repairs to lengthen the life of your gutters. Sometimes, basic gutter cleaning is the only thing that’s needed.
Some homeowners choose to do simple gutter care and maintenance, like gutter cleaning, on their own. Although it is time-consuming and dangerous, they are willing to take on the chore a couple of times each year to save some money.
However, anything beyond simple gutter cleaning is best left to professionals.
Start by finding a gutter specialist with excellent customer reviews like Long Island Gutter Solutions. Then let us do an inspection to correctly diagnose the issue. We offer free inspections for potential customers.
If there are any repairs to be made, or if we think that it’s time for gutter replacement, you can trust us to get the job done right. Our gutter repair service will save you a lot of time and trouble in the long run!