Are Your Gutters Leaking?

Rain Gutters are very important because – although they are simple and inexpensive – they protect more valuable home components, 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 much simpler than you probably think.

Finding a leaking gutter early can protect the entire house. In this blog post, we’ve listed a few indicators that you can be on the lookout for (without calling a roof specialist) to determine if you have a gutter leaking.

How to Identify a Gutter Leak

There are a number of signs that indicate a leaking gutter, even if you don’t physically see water dripping. You can do a visual inspection from the lawn to decide if the signs of a gutter leak are present.

Here’s what to look for:

Visible Flaws – When the gutters pull away from the home, it stresses the connectors. Cracks can be caused by poor installation, poor quality materials, storm damage or general wear and tear. Cracks in the gutter channel or seeing any part of them pulling away from the house might not cause a leak yet, but will certainly cause issues. Getting these defects fixed is more affordable than replacing gutters or any of the possible damages a leak can cause.

Pooling Water – If water is puddling 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 close to your house, just in case.

Pooling water near your home 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 visible signs of a leaking gutter is a drip, or several of them.

A drip coming from your gutter is likely a clog, but if it’s coming from the bottom and it isn’t a big overflow, there is an unseen leak somewhere. 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 rain gutters likely means a leak will begin soon, if it hasn’t already. The hole where the nail or screw fits in starts to become a new area where water can escape if the fastener starts to fall out.

Sometimes the answer is as simple as refastening them, but it may also be necessary 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 put it on.

Water Stains or Rust – Moisture leaves behind evidence, especially when it is constantly or frequently present. Darker water stains will appear because dirt and other organic materials stick to the moist surface better than on a drier one.

Rust is the product of constant moisture, and the more severe sign you’ll see after you see water stains. Most water stains on gutters can be cleaned and the gutters repaired, but if gutters are rusty, they definitely need 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 beginning to notice paint flaking, cracking in the foundation or walkways, decaying wood on your porch or deck, or mold on your window sills, you may 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 should be taken into account when inspecting gutters for leaks.

Other gutter issues…

Not all gutter issues lead to home repairs. If you see these common gutter issues, a leak may not be the problem.

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

Animal Nests – A small bird, squirrel, chipmunk can quickly build a nest in your gutters or in your downspout, which can cause overflow. Once the nest has been there for a little while, you will start to see some of the above signs of a leak in a gutter – like rust or pooling – if you don’t get rid of it.

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 strong roots that can destroy aluminum gutters before you even know it.

Professional Gutter Repair

Any of these visible signs indicate there are issues with your gutter that must be addressed right away. By quickly checking all of your gutters and downspouts, you can see if there’s a cause for concern.

This is when a gutter service in Colorado Springs can be of great help. They can determine if gutter replacement is required or if you can get by with repairs to lengthen the life of your home’s gutters. Sometimes, basic 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 is time consuming and sometimes dangerous, they are eager to take on the chore 1-2 times each year to save a little money.

However, anything beyond simple gutter cleaning should be left to the professionals.

Start by hiring a gutter service with excellent customer reviews like The Colorado Springs Gutter Company. Then let us do a full inspection to correctly diagnose the issue. We offer free inspections for new customers.

If there are 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!