Are Your Gutters Leaking?

Rain Gutters are very important because – despite being simple and relatively inexpensive – they protect more valuable home investments, such as 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.

Spotting a leaking gutter early can protect an entire house. Below, we’ve listed a few signs that you can look for (without hiring a roofer) to see if you have a gutter leaking.

How to Identify a Gutter Leak

There are many warning signs that suggest a leaking gutter, even if you don’t actually notice water dripping. You can do an inspection from the lawn to determine if the signs of a gutter leak are there.

Here are some things to keep an eye out for:

Obvious Flaws – When gutters start to pull away from the roof, it causes stress on the connections. Cracks can be the result of poor installation, low quality materials, damage or general wear and tear. Cracks in the gutter channel or seeing any section of them pulling away from the home might not cause a leak yet, but these things will ultimately result in problems. Getting these defects repaired is a lot more affordable than replacing gutters or any of the potential damages a leak can lead to.

Pooling Water – If water is pooling around your house, it’s a 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 around your home can be really bad for the foundation. It’s also bad for landscaping and can cause your windows to leak.

Dripping – One of the more noticeable signs of gutter leaks is a drip, or several drips.

A drip coming from your gutter indicates a clog, but if it’s coming from the bottom and it isn’t overflowing, there is an unseen leak. These tiny 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 gutters likely means a leak is going to start soon, if it hasn’t already. The hole where the nail or screw fits starts to become a new area where water can escape if the fastener works its way out.

Sometimes the answer is as easy as tightening them, but it might also be important to cover the hole so no water can escape from the edge of the screw or nail, even after it is tightened again. You can purchase this type of sealant, or let a gutter repair company apply it.

Water Stains or Rust – Moisture leaves evidence behind, especially when it is consistently or frequently there. Dark water stains appear because dirt and other debris adhere to the wet surface better than on a dry one.

Rust is the result of constant moisture, and the more extreme sign you’ll notice after you see water stains. Most water stains can be cleaned away and the gutters can be repaired, but if gutters are rusty, they 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 beginning to notice paint flaking, cracking in the foundation 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 somewhere it shouldn’t be. They also go hand in hand with aging building materials, so all factors need to be considered when inspecting gutters for leaks.

Other gutter issues…

Not all gutter issues lead to home repairs. If you see these gutter issues, a leak might not be the issue.

Rain Overflow – This issue is usually an easy fix. It’s likely not a gutter leak, but a clog that should be removed. You can do this yourself or hire a Columbia gutter cleaning company – even a general handyman – to clean them out.

Animal Nests – A bird, squirrel, chipmunk or other pest can quickly build a nest in your gutters or in your downspout, which will 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 take root in your gutter with little 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 indicate there are issues with your 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 where a gutter service in Columbia can be of great help. They can distinguish whether gutter replacement is necessary or if you can get by with repairs to extend the lifetime of your home’s gutters. Sometimes, gutter cleaning is all that’s needed.

Some homeowners decide to do basic gutter care and maintenance, like gutter cleaning, on their own. Although it is time consuming and somewhat dangerous, they are ready to take on the project 1-2 times each year to save a little money.

However, any job beyond basic gutter cleaning should be left to the professionals.

Start by finding a gutter service with good customer reviews like Columbia Gutters, Inc.. Then let us do an inspection to correctly diagnose the issue. We provide free inspections for new customers.

If there are gutter repairs to be made, or if we think that it’s time for gutter replacement, you can trust us to get the job done. Our gutter repair service will save you a lot of time and trouble in the long run!