Are Your Gutters Leaking?
Gutters are so important because – while they are simple and relatively inexpensive – they protect valuable home components, like the roof, foundation and windows. Caring for and cleaning rain gutters is an easy way to help protect your home from major damages.
And it’s really much simpler than you probably think.
Spotting a gutter leak early can protect an entire house. In this blog post, we’ve provided a few signs that you can be on the lookout for (without calling a roofer) to see if there is a leak in your gutters.
How to Identify a Gutter Leak
There are a number of signs that indicate leaking gutters, even if you don’t actually notice water dripping. You can do an inspection from the ground to determine if the signs of a leaking gutter are there.
Here are some things to look for:
Obvious Flaws – When gutters start to pull away from the home, it stresses the connections. Cracks can be caused by faulty installation, low quality materials, damage or age. Cracks in the gutter channel or seeing any section of them pulling away from the roof may not cause a leak just yet, but will definitely lead to problems. Having these defects fixed is more affordable than replacing gutters or any of the possible 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 underground pipes, water spigots and any water source that is near your house, just in case.
Pooling water near your house can be very harmful for the foundation. It’s also bad for landscaping and might cause your windows to leak.
Drips – One of the most visible signs of a gutter leak is a drip, or several drips.
A drip coming from your gutter is likely a clog, but if it’s coming from the bottom and it isn’t a big overflow, there is a hidden leak. These tiny leaks can occur if a fastener has gotten loose (see the next item below).
Visible Fasteners – Finding nails and screws wiggling their way out of the gutters likely means a leak will start soon, if it hasn’t already. The area where the nail or screw fits in becomes a new area where water can get out if the fastener starts to fall out.
Sometimes the solution is as easy as tightening them, but it can also be necessary to cover the hole so no 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 – Moisture leaves behind evidence, especially when 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 nearly constant moisture, and the more extreme sign you’ll see after water stains. water stains on gutters can be cleaned and the gutters fixed, but if gutters are rusty, they will definitely need to be repaired or be replaced.
Unexplained Home Damage – If there hasn’t been a severe storm, and you haven’t had a limb fall on top of your roof, but you’re beginning to see paint flaking, cracking in the foundation or walkways, rotting 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 be. 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 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 typically an easy fix. It’s probably not a gutter leak, but a clog that should be removed. You can do this yourself or hire a Iowa City gutter cleaning service – even a general handyman – to clean them out.
Animal Nests – A bird, squirrel, chipmunk or other pest can quickly build a nest in your rain gutters or in your 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 it.
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 really strong roots that can damage aluminum gutters before you know it.
Professional Gutter Repair
Any of these easy-to-see signs mean there are problems with your gutter that need to be addressed immediately. By quickly checking your gutters and downspouts, you can tell if there’s a cause for concern.
This is where a professional gutter service in Iowa City can be helpful. They can determine if gutter replacement is required or if you can get by with repairs to lengthen the life of your home’s gutters. Sometimes, gutter cleaning is all that’s needed.
Homeowners can choose to do basic gutter care, such as gutter cleaning, on their own. Although it is time consuming and dangerous, they are ready to complete the chore a couple of times a year to save some money.
However, any job beyond gutter cleaning should be left to the professionals.
Start by finding a gutter service with good customer reviews like Iowa City Gutter Solutions. Then let us do an inspection to correctly diagnose the issue. We provide free inspections for potential customers.
If there are any repairs to be made, or if we believe that it’s time for gutter replacement, 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!