Are Your Gutters Leaking?

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

And it’s really much easier than you probably think.

Identifying a leaking gutter early can protect an entire home. Here, we’ve provided a few indicators that you can be on the lookout for (without hiring a roofer) to see if your gutters may be leaking.

How to Identify Leaking Gutters

There are a lot of signs that indicate a gutter leak, even if you don’t notice water dripping. You can do a visual inspection from the safety of your lawn to determine if the signs of a leaking gutter are there.

Here’s what to keep an eye out for:

Visible Flaws – When the gutters pull away from the house, it causes stress on the fasteners. Cracks can be caused by poor installation, low quality materials, damage or general wear and tear. Cracks in the gutter or seeing any part of them pulling away from the roof might not cause a leak just yet, but will definitely cause issues. Getting these defects repaired is affordable than gutter replacement or any of the possible damages a leak can cause.

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

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

Drips – One of the more noticeable signs of a leaking gutter is a drip, or several drips.

A drip from your rain gutter indicates a clog, but if it’s coming from the bottom and it isn’t overflowing, there is a hidden leak. These tiny 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 rain gutters likely means a leak will start soon, if it hasn’t already. The hole where the nail or screw fits in 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 refastening them, but it might also be necessary to cover the hole so no water can leak from the edge of the screw or nail, even after it is back in place. You can purchase this type of sealant, or let a gutter repair company apply it.

Water Stains or Rust – Moisture leaves evidence behind, especially if it is constantly or frequently present. Darker water stains will appear because dirt and other organic debris adhere to the moist surface better than it would a dry one.

Rust is the product of constant moisture, and the more extreme sign you’ll notice after you see water stains. Most water stains on gutters can be cleaned 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 recently 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, rotting wood on your patio or deck, or mold on your window sills, you could have a gutter leak.

These are all signs that water has been leaking from a place it shouldn’t be. They also go hand in hand with older building materials, so all factors need to be factored in when inspecting gutters for leaks.

Other gutter issues…

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

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

Animal Nests – A small bird, squirrel, chipmunk can quickly build a nest in your rain gutters or downspout, which can cause overflow. Once the nest has been there for a little 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 take root in your gutter with minimal debris present. While it may be small now, a tree sapling will sprout really strong roots that can destroy aluminum gutters before you know it.

Professional Gutter Repair

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

This is where a professional gutter service in Fort Collins can be of great help. They can distinguish 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 the only thing that’s needed.

Homeowners can choose to do basic gutter care, such as gutter cleaning, themselves. Although it it can be time consuming and somewhat dangerous, they are willing to take on the chore 1-2 times a year to save a little money.

However, any job beyond gutter cleaning should be left to the professionals.

Start by finding a gutter specialist with excellent customer reviews like Fort Collins Gutter Service. Then let us do a full inspection to accurately determine the issue. We offer free inspections for new customers.

If there are any gutter repairs to be made, or if we think that it’s time to install new gutters, you can trust us to get the job done right. Our gutter repair service will save you a lot of time and trouble in the long run!