Cleaning gutters isn’t anyone’s idea of fun. There are so many other fun things to do with your weekend. Plus, what’s the harm in having some leaves in the gutters anyway?
Rain gutters collect the runoff water from your roof and direct it away from your foundation. They prevent basement flooding and safeguard your landscape. Blocked gutters can’t carry water to your downspouts. Instead, the water pours over the sides. It can lead to structural damage to your home. When they’re clogged or damaged, getting them fixed as soon as possible is essential to avoid a slew of costly problems down the road.
As a homeowner, knowing about gutter issues, how to fix them before any damage occurs, and when it’s time to replace them is wise. Here are five common gutter problems to look out for, how to fix them, and how to better prevent them in the future.
1. Leaking
Leaky gutters are a common problem that can cause severe damage to your home if not taken care of. You can often spot a leak as visible water seeping or dripping from joints or cracks in the gutter system. The leaky gutter can cause a range of damage, from minor staining to your siding to severe damage, such as erosion to your home’s foundation.
Repairing leaky gutters: To repair a gutter leak, you must first identify where the water is getting out and then seal it with patching or gutter sealant.
Preventing leaky gutters: The best defense against leaky gutters is regular inspections and consistent maintenance. While doing maintenance, check your gutters for wear and tear and fix any issues you see. In addition, check to see if your gutters are properly pitched. To allow water to flow down, keeping water away from your home and decreasing the risk of leaks, gutters should have a slight slope towards the downspout.
Taking preventative steps helps to protect your home from the potential damage of leaky gutters. If you don’t feel up to the task of inspecting your gutters, call a local home roofing company to help you out.
2. Sagging
Sagging gutters with a noticeable dip or bow in the middle of the gutter funnel can be problematic to your home. Even if it looks pretty minor, a minor sag or dip can have far-reaching consequences. Sagging gutters lose their ability to efficiently channel rain away from your house, making it pool in the sagged gutter area. The stagnant water can lead to severe water damage, such as basement flooding, foundation issues, and damage to your roof and siding.
Repairing sagging gutters: The best way to repair sagging gutters is typically to straighten them and secure them back to the fascia board with the appropriate tools until they have the perfect slope for water flow.
Preventing sagging gutters: The best preventive measures involve consistent maintenance, such as clearing debris from the gutters and ensuring they are fastened securely to the house. Regular maintenance and gutter checks are vital to keeping your rain gutters pristine and water damage at bay.
3. Sloping
Improper sloping is a sure way to tell that your gutters aren’t working correctly. However, this problem may be difficult to spot at first glance. Improper sloping often occurs when water puddles or pools in the gutters, especially after heavy rainfall. The improper slope prevents water from effectively flowing downward toward the spouts, which causes standing water in the gutters. This can gradually lead to corrosion, rust, and structural problems in your gutter system.
Repairing improper sloping: To repair improper sloping, you’ll usually need to adjust the gutter hangers and supports to get that prime slope that will lead water toward the downspouts.
Preventing sloping gutters: Since it can be hard to tell if your gutters are properly sloped, regular inspections and adjustments to your gutter system are smart ways to prevent this.
4. Clogging
Clogs and blockages are very common gutter issues, and the good news is that they are usually visible. Gutters may get clogged with dirt, leaves, needles, twigs, pine needles, or other gunk that prevents water from flowing through them. Clogged gutters are very troublesome and can cause a range of issues, from some unsightly water during rainy days to more significant problems like water damage to your siding, roof, and foundation.
Repairing clogged gutters: Fixing clogged gutters is simple: manually remove the debris and clear the gutter so there are open pathways for water to flow freely. This job becomes significantly more challenging if you live in the two-story house. If you are uncomfortable climbing up on a tall ladder to clean out your gutters, call a professional.
Preventing clogged gutters: One option is to install gutter screens or guards to prevent future clogs. They keep leaves and debris out while allowing water to flow through. Otherwise, regular maintenance and gutter cleanings are the best way to check for clogs and prevent clogs from being a repeated problem that pose risks for damaging your home.
5. Environmental Wear and Tear
Damage and wear and tear due to the environment include cracks, dents, or bends caused by heavy debris, severe weather, or falling branches. These issues may seem minor at first, but they can turn into major issues if they aren’t taken care of. This kind of damage to your gutters can cause leaking, improper draining, and structural damage to your house.
Repairing damaged gutters: To repair damaged gutters, you’ll first want to assess the severity of the damage and either patch up minor issues or replace the significantly damaged sections. You can do it independently or call a roofing company to make any necessary repairs.
Preventing damage: One way to prevent accidental and environmental damage is to trim overhanging tree branches and perform regular inspections of your gutters for any signs of wear and tear. It’s also wise to invest in heavy-duty gutter materials.
Problems with your rain gutters can mean problems for your home’s foundation. Preventative measures such as regular maintenance and cleaning are the best way to safeguard your home from costly damage. A good rule of thumb is to check on your gutters every three months. Being consistent means that problems don’t stay there too long and escalate. In addition to having a good prevention strategy, choosing the right gutter system for your home is paramount. You may look into having a roof inspection so an expert can tell you about the different gutter styles, sizes, and materials that would be best for your house and roofing system.
There should be a balance between aesthetics and effectiveness. The size of your gutters should depend on how much rain you get where you live, and the style should blend in with your home’s aesthetics. There’s a lot to learn about roofs and gutters, but as long as you keep up with your maintenance checks, your bank account will stay out of the gutter.