Are Your Gutters Leaking?

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

And it’s really a lot simpler than you might think.

Spotting a leaking gutter early can protect an entire house. In this blog post, we’ve listed a few signs that you can be on the lookout for (without hiring a roofer) to see if there is a leak in your gutters.

How to Identify a Leaking Gutter

There are several signs that suggest leaking gutters, even if you don’t actually see water dripping. You can do an inspection from the lawn to determine if the signs of a gutter leak are there.

Here’s what to look for:

Visible Flaws – When gutters begin to pull away from the home, it stresses the connectors. Cracks can be the result of faulty installation, poor quality materials, damage or age. 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 lead to problems. Having these defects fixed is affordable than gutter replacement or any of the possible damages a leak can lead to.

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

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

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

A drip coming from your rain gutter indicates a clog, but if it’s coming from the bottom of the gutter and it isn’t overflowing, there is a hidden leak somewhere. These tiny leaks will occur if a fastener has gotten loose (see the next item below).

Visible Fasteners – Finding nails and screws wiggling their way out of the rain gutters likely means a leak is going to 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 solution is as simple as refastening them, but it may also be important to seal the hole so no water can escape 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 apply it.

Water Stains or Rust – Moisture leaves behind evidence, especially when it is consistently or frequently there. Dark water stains appear because dirt and other materials stick to the moist surface better than it would a dry 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 and the gutters repaired, but if the gutters are rusty, they definitely have to be repaired or replaced.

Unexplained Home Damage – If there hasn’t recently been a storm, and you haven’t had a limb fall on top of your roof, but you’re beginning to notice paint flaking, cracking in the foundation or walkways, rotting wood on your patio or deck, or moldy window sills, you might have leaking gutters.

These are all signs that water has been leaking from somewhere it shouldn’t be. They also are related to older building materials, so all factors need to be considered when inspecting gutters for leaks.

Other gutter issues…

Not every gutter issue leads to home repairs. If you see these gutter issues, a leak may not be the problem.

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

Animal Nests – A bird, squirrel, chipmunk or other pest 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 seeing some of the above signs of leaks – like rust or pooling – if you don’t get rid of it.

Trees & Plants – A tree can take root in your gutter with small amounts of debris present. While it may be little now, a 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 issues with your rain gutter that need to be addressed immediately. By quickly checking all of your gutters and downspouts, you can see if there’s a reason for concern.

This is when a professional gutter service in San Francisco can be of great help. They can distinguish if gutter replacement is necessary or if you can get by with repairs to lengthen the lifetime of your home’s gutters. Sometimes, basic gutter cleaning is the only thing that’s needed.

Homeowners can decide to do basic gutter care and maintenance, such as gutter cleaning, themselves. Although it it can be time consuming and dangerous, they are eager to take on the chore a couple of times a year to save some money.

However, any job beyond gutter cleaning is best left to the professionals.

Start by calling a gutter specialist with excellent customer reviews like San Francisco Gutter Service. Then let us do a full inspection to accurately determine the problem. We provide free inspections for potential customers.

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