Are Your Gutters Leaking?
Gutters are important because – while they are simple and inexpensive – they protect more valuable home assets, such as the roof, foundation and windows. Taking care of and cleaning gutters is an easy way to help protect your home from damages.
And it’s really much easier than you probably think.
Identifying a gutter leak early can protect an entire house. Below, we’ve listed a few indicators that you can look 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 gutter leak, even if you don’t physically notice water dripping. You can do an inspection from the lawn to decide 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 home, it stresses the connections. Cracks can be caused by faulty installation, low quality materials, storm damage or age. Cracks in the gutter or seeing any part of them pulling away from the home may not be causing a leak just yet, but these things will ultimately lead to problems. Having these defects repaired is affordable than installing new gutters or any of the possible damages a leak can cause.
Pooling Water – If rain is puddling around your home, it’s a sign that a gutter leak is present. But you should also check pipes, water spigots and any water source that is close to your home, just to be careful.
Pooling water around your house can be very damaging for the foundation. It’s also bad for landscaping and can cause windows to leak.
Drips – One of the most visible signs of gutter leaks is a drip, or several drips.
A drip coming from your gutter could indicate a clog, but if it’s coming from the bottom and it isn’t overflowing, there is a hidden leak. These minor leaks will occur if a fastener has become loose (see the next item below).
Visible Fasteners – Seeing nails and screws working their way out of the gutters likely means a leak will 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 get out if the fastener starts to fall out.
Sometimes the answer is as easy as refastening them, but it can also be important to cover the hole so no more water can leak from the edge of the screw or the nail, even after it is tightened again. You can buy this sealant, or let a gutter repair company put it on.
Water Stains or Rust – Moisture leaves evidence behind, especially if it is constantly or frequently there. Darker water stains will appear because dirt and other materials adhere to the wet surface better than it would a drier one.
Rust is the result of constant moisture, and the more severe sign you’ll notice after water stains. Most water stains can be cleaned and the gutters repaired, but if your gutters are rusty, they definitely have to be repaired or be replaced.
Unexplained Home Damage – If there hasn’t recently been a severe storm, and you haven’t had a limb fall on your roof, but you’re beginning to see paint flaking, cracking in the foundation around the downspouts or walkways, decaying wood on your porch or deck, or mold on your window sills, you may have a gutter leak.
These are all signs that water has been leaking from somewhere it shouldn’t. They also go hand in hand with older building materials, so all of these factors should be taken into account when inspecting gutters for leaks.
Other gutter issues…
Not every gutter issue leads to major repairs. If you see these gutter issues, a leak may not be the problem.
Rain Overflow – This one is a pretty easy fix. It’s likely not a gutter leak, but a clog that needs to be removed. You can do this yourself or hire a Bloomington gutter cleaning service – even a general handyman – to clean out the gutters.
Animal Nests – A small bird, squirrel, chipmunk can build a nest in your gutters or downspout, which can 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 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 tree sapling will sprout strong roots that can destroy aluminum gutters before you even know it.
Professional Gutter Repair
Any of these visible signs mean there are issues with your gutter that have to be addressed right away. By checking your gutters and downspouts, you can tell if there’s a reason for concern.
This is where a professional gutter service in Bloomington can be of great help. They can determine whether gutter replacement is necessary or if you can get by with repairs to extend the life of your home’s gutters. Sometimes, basic gutter cleaning is all that’s needed.
Homeowners can decide to do basic gutter care and maintenance, like gutter cleaning, themselves. Although it it can be time consuming and somewhat dangerous, they are eager to take on the project 1-2 times each year to save some money.
However, any job beyond gutter cleaning should be left to the professionals.
Start by calling a gutter specialist with good customer reviews like PRO Bloomington Gutters. Then let us do a full inspection to correctly diagnose the problem. We offer free inspections for new customers.
If there are any repairs to be made, or if we believe that it’s time to install new gutters, you can count on us to get the job done right. Our gutter repair service can save you a lot of time and trouble in the long run!