Are Your Gutters Leaking?

Rain Gutters are so important because – despite being simple and relatively inexpensive – they protect valuable home investments, such as the roof, foundation and windows. Maintaining and cleaning rain gutters is an easy way to help prevent your home from damages.

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

Finding a leaking gutter early can protect an entire home. In this blog post, we’ve listed a few signs that you can be on the lookout for (without hiring a roof specialist) to see if your gutters may be leaking.

How to Identify a Leaking Gutter

There are several signs that suggest leaking gutters, even if you don’t physically see water dripping. You can do an inspection from the lawn to determine 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 fasteners. Cracks can be caused by faulty installation, poor quality materials, storm damage or age. Cracks in the gutter or seeing any section of them pulling away from the house may not be causing a leak just yet, but these things will definitely lead to problems. Getting these defects repaired is more affordable than gutter replacement or any of the potential damages a leak can lead to.

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

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

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

A drip coming from your gutter could indicate a clog, but if it’s coming from the bottom and it isn’t overflowing, there is a hidden leak. These small leaks will happen if a fastener has gotten loose (see the next item on our list).

Visible Fasteners – Seeing nails and screws wiggling their way out of the gutters likely means a leak will start soon, if it hasn’t already. The area where the nail or screw fits becomes a new area where water can escape if the fastener starts to fall out.

Sometimes the solution is as easy as refastening them, but it could also be necessary to seal the hole so no water can leak from around 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 evidence behind, especially if it is consistently or frequently there. Dark water stains appear because dirt and other materials stick to the wet surface better than on a drier one.

Rust is the result of constant moisture, and the more severe sign you’ll see after water stains. Most water stains can be cleaned away and the gutters can be 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 limb fall on your roof, but you’re starting to notice paint flaking, cracking in the foundation or walkways, rotting wood on your porch or deck, or mold on your window sills, you could have a gutter leak.

These are all indications that water has been leaking from somewhere 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 gutter leak may not be the issue.

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

Animal Nests – A small bird, squirrel, chipmunk can build a nest in your rain gutters or in your downspout, which can also 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 take root in your rain gutter with minimal debris present. While it may be little now, a tree sapling will sprout strong roots that can damage aluminum gutters before you know it.

Professional Gutter Repair

Any of these obvious signs mean there are problems with your gutter that must be addressed immediately. By quickly checking all of your gutters and downspouts, you can tell if there’s a cause for concern.

This is when a gutter service in Asheville can be of great help. They can determine if gutter replacement is necessary 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.

Some homeowners choose to do basic gutter care, such as gutter cleaning, on their own. Although it is time consuming and somewhat dangerous, they are willing to take on the chore a couple of times each year to save a little money.

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

Start by finding a gutter service with excellent customer reviews like AllClean Asheville Gutters. Then let us do an inspection to accurately diagnose the issue. We offer free inspections for potential customers.

If there are any gutter repairs to be made, or if we think 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!