Are Your Gutters Leaking?

Rain Gutters are so important because – despite being simple and inexpensive – they protect more valuable home assets, like the roof, foundation and windows. Taking care of and cleaning gutters is an easy way to prevent your house from major damages.

And it’s a lot easier than you probably think.

Finding a leaking gutter early can protect an entire home. Below, we’ve listed a few signs that you can be on the lookout for (without calling a roof specialist) to determine if you have a gutter leaking.

How to Identify Leaking Gutters

There are many warning signs that indicate a leaking gutter, even if you don’t see water dripping. You can do an inspection from the lawn to determine if the signs of a leaking gutter are present.

Here’s what to look for:

Visible Flaws – When the gutters pull away from the roof, it causes stress on the fasteners. Cracks can be caused by faulty installation, poor quality materials, damage or general wear and tear. Cracks in the gutter channel or seeing any section of them pulling away from the roofing may not be causing a leak just yet, but these things will definitely result in problems. Getting these defects fixed is more affordable than installing new gutters or any of the possible damages a leak can lead to.

Pooling – If rain is pooling around your house, it’s a possible sign that a gutter leak is present. But you should also check underground pipes, water spigots and any other water source that is near your home, just in case.

Pooling water near your house can be very bad for the foundation. It’s also bad for landscaping and might cause your windows to leak.

Dripping – One of the most obvious signs of a gutter leak is a drip, or several of them.

A drip coming from your rain gutter is likely a clog, but if it’s coming from the bottom and it isn’t overflowing, there is a hidden leak. These tiny leaks can occur if a fastener has become 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 is going to start soon, if it hasn’t already. The area where the nail or screw fits starts to become a new area where water can get out if the fastener works its way out.

Sometimes the solution is as easy as tightening them, but it may also be necessary to seal the hole so no more water can leak from the edge of the screw or the 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 – Moisture leaves behind evidence, especially when it is constantly or frequently there. Dark water stains appear because dirt and other debris stick to the wet surface better than it would a drier one.

Rust is the product of constant moisture, and the more extreme sign you’ll see after you see water stains. water stains can be cleaned away and the gutters can be repaired, but if your gutters are rusty, they will definitely have to be repaired or be 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 or walkways, decaying wood on your porch or deck, or mold on your window sills, you could have a gutter leak.

These are all signs that water has been leaking from somewhere it shouldn’t be. They also are related to aging building materials, so all 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 common gutter issues, a leak may not be the issue.

Rain Overflow – This issue is a pretty simple fix. It’s likely not a leak, but a clog that has to be cleaned out. You can do this or hire a Johns Creek gutter cleaning company – 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 cause overflow. Once the nest has been there awhile, you will start to see some of the above signs of leaks – like rust or puddling – if you don’t get rid of it.

Trees & Plants – A tree can easily take root in your gutter with small amounts of 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 visible signs indicate there are problems with your rain gutter that need to be addressed right away. By quickly checking all of your gutters and downspouts, you can see if there’s a reason for concern.

This is where a professional gutter service in Johns Creek can be helpful. They can distinguish if gutter replacement is necessary or if you can get by with repairs to extend the lifetime of your home’s gutters. Sometimes, basic gutter cleaning is the only thing that’s needed.

Homeowners can decide to do basic gutter care, like gutter cleaning, on their own. Although it it can be time consuming and somewhat dangerous, they are willing to complete the chore a couple of times each year to save a little money.

However, any job beyond basic gutter cleaning is best left to the professionals.

Start by calling a gutter specialist with good customer reviews like Johns Creek Gutter Service. Then let us do a full inspection to correctly determine the problem. We provide 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 will save you a lot of time and trouble in the long run!