Are Your Gutters Leaking?

Rain Gutters are very important because – despite being simple and inexpensive – they protect more valuable home investments, such as the roof, foundation and windows. Taking care of and cleaning gutters is an easy way to help protect your home from damages.

And it’s much easier than you might think.

Identifying a leaking gutter early can protect an entire home. Below, we’ve provided a few signs that you can be on the lookout for (without hiring a roof specialist) to determine if there is a leak in your gutters.

How to Identify a Gutter Leak

There are several signs that point to leaking gutters, even if you don’t notice water dripping. You can do an inspection from the safety of your ground to determine if the signs of a gutter leak are there.

Here’s what to look for:

Obvious Flaws – When gutters start to pull away from the roof, it stresses the connections. Cracks can be the result of poor installation, low quality materials, storm damage or age. Cracks in the gutter or seeing any part of them pulling away from the house may not cause a leak just yet, but these things will definitely create issues. Having these defects fixed is affordable than replacing gutters or any of the damages a leak can lead to.

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

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

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

A drip coming from your rain 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 somewhere. These minor leaks can occur if a fastener has become loose (see the next item below).

Visible Fasteners – Finding nails and screws wiggling their way out of the gutters likely means a leak is going to begin soon, if it hasn’t already. The hole 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 answer is as simple as tightening them, but it might also be important to seal the hole so no more water can leak from the edge of the screw or the nail, even after it is tightened again. You can purchase this sealant, or let a gutter repair company put it on.

Water Stains or Rust – Water leaves behind evidence, especially if it is constantly or frequently there. Darker water stains appear because dirt and other organic debris stick to the moist surface better than it would a dry 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 fixed, but if your gutters are rusty, they definitely need to be repaired or replaced.

Unexplained Home Damage – If there hasn’t recently 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 around the downspouts 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 a place it shouldn’t. They also are related to older building materials, so all factors need to be considered when inspecting gutters for leaks.

Other gutter issues…

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

Rain Overflow – This issue is a pretty easy fix. It’s likely not a leak, but a clog that has to be cleaned out. You can do this or hire a Olathe gutter cleaning service – even a general handyman – to clean out the gutters.

Animal Nests – A small bird, squirrel, chipmunk or other pest can quickly build a nest in your rain 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 small amounts of debris present. While it may be small now, a sapling will sprout really strong roots that can damage aluminum gutters before you even know it.

Professional Gutter Repair

Any of these easy-to-see signs indicate there are problems with your gutter that must be addressed immediately. By checking your gutters and downspouts, you can tell if there’s a cause for concern.

This is when a gutter service in Olathe can be helpful. They can distinguish whether gutter replacement is necessary or if you can get by with repairs to extend the lifetime of your gutters. Sometimes, gutter cleaning is all that’s needed.

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

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

Start by finding a gutter specialist with excellent customer reviews like Olathe Gutters & More!. Then let us do an inspection to accurately diagnose the problem. We provide free inspections for potential customers.

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