What’s Causing My Gutters to Leak, and How Can I Stop It from Happening?

Leaky rain gutters are just asking for structural or foundation damage, but most homeowners don’t think about it until there’s an obvious problem at hand. One of the best things you can do for your home is check your gutters during rainy season—including when it’s raining.

If you notice leaks or water pooling where it shouldn’t, it might be time to replace your gutters. Rainwater should only come out through the downspouts. Check with a local gutter company for gutter downspout ideas in Pensacola, FL that might be able to remedy the issue.

Here’s a closer look at some of the possible reasons why your gutters are leaking:

• Your gutters are clogged: Clogged gutters are one of the most common reasons rain gutters aren’t doing their job. If leaves and other debris get stuck in the gutters, the water will have nowhere to go except up. The water will fill up your gutters and spill over, rather than exiting through the downspouts as intended.
• The gutters are improperly pitched: Gutter pitch is important because it helps divert the water into the downspout and away from your home. If they’re clogged, gutters can start sagging. This makes it harder for water to flow as intended. Instead, you might see leaks and spillover, which leads to costly water damage.
• Your gutters are loose: Most gutters are secured to the home through a series of hidden hooks, which are attached to the fascia. If the hangers loosen over time, water can run off over the rear edge of your gutters, directly onto the fascia, down the walls and onto the foundation. Check to see if the internal hangers are loose and tighten them if necessary—it might be all you need, rather than a full-blown replacement.
• The joints are separated: Separated joints are a common problem. Over time, the places where your gutters fit together can separate, causing them to accumulate water and plant debris. This may cause the metal to corrode and wear away. Minor separation can be fixed with caulking, but if your gutters have significantly deteriorated, you’ll probably need to replace them.
• Holes and gaps have developed: Finally, you may just have holes in the gutters or gaps between the pieces. Just like separated joints, your gutters can corrode and deteriorate over time. If there are minor holes, caulking might be all you need to do, but major holes will require professional replacement.

The most important thing to remember is that you should never let leaky gutters persist. It’s easy to put off basic repairs for another day, but the longer you wait, the more likely you’ll see water damage in and around your home.

Luckily, it’s easy to replace your rain gutters. Gutter Master specializes in seamless gutters and smart downspout ideas in Pensacola, FL. We custom-make rain gutters for any building, including gutter guards. If you’ve noticed that your rain gutters are leaking, make sure to get them replaced before rainy season really takes off. Call Gutter Master today to get a quote and schedule your replacement.

Categorised in: House Gutters

This post was written by Writer