Are Your Gutters Leaking?

Rain Gutters are really important because – while they are simple and inexpensive – they protect valuable home investments, such as the roof, foundation and windows. Caring for and cleaning rain gutters is an easy way to help prevent your house from major damages.

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

Spotting a leaking gutter early can protect the entire home. Below, we’ve provided a few indicators that you can be on the lookout for (without hiring a roofer) to determine if you have a gutter leaking.

How to Identify Leaking Gutters

There are many warning signs that point to a gutter leak, even if you don’t actually notice water dripping. You can do a visual inspection from the ground to decide if the signs of a leaking gutter are there.

Here’s what to look for:

Obvious Flaws – When the gutters 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 part of them pulling away from the roofing may not cause a leak just yet, but these things will definitely cause issues. Getting these defects fixed is a lot more affordable than gutter replacement or any of the potential damages a leak can cause.

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

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

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

A drip 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 occur if a fastener has become loose (see the next item below).

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 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 answer is as simple as tightening them, but it might also be important to cover the hole so no more water can escape from around 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 – Water leaves evidence behind, especially when it is consistently or frequently there. Darker water stains will appear because dirt and other materials stick to the wet surface better than it would a drier one.

Rust is the product of nearly constant moisture, and the more extreme sign you’ll see after you see water stains. water stains can be cleaned away 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 been a storm, and you haven’t had a tree limb fall on your roof, but you’re starting to notice paint flaking, cracking in the foundation or walkways, rotting wood on your patio or deck, or mold on your window sills, you could have leaking gutters.

These are all indications that water has been leaking from somewhere it shouldn’t. They also are related to aging building materials, so all of these factors need to be taken into account when inspecting gutters for leaks.

Other gutter issues…

Not all gutter issues lead to home 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 or hire a Kirkland gutter cleaning company – even a general handyman – to clean out the gutters.

Animal Nests – A small bird, squirrel, chipmunk can build a nest in your rain gutters or downspout, which will also cause overflow. Once the nest has been there a while, you will start seeing 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 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 obvious signs mean there are issues with your gutter that need to be addressed right away. By checking your gutters and downspouts, you can tell if there’s a cause for concern.

This is where a gutter service in Kirkland can be of great help. They can determine whether gutter replacement is required or if you can get by with repairs to extend the lifetime of your home’s gutters. Sometimes, basic gutter cleaning is all that’s needed.

Some homeowners choose to do simple gutter care, like gutter cleaning, themselves. Although it is time consuming and sometimes dangerous, they are ready to complete the project 1-2 times each year to save some money.

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

Start by hiring a gutter service with good customer reviews like Kirkland Gutters. Then let us do an inspection to accurately 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 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!