The most obvious indications that it’s time for gutter repairs include leaking gutters, but what exactly causes them? While some of the causes are clear-cut, at least one is relatively simple to overlook.
The following are signs that your gutter is dripping:
The Gutters’ Age
Gutters deteriorate and wear out with time, just like many other parts of the house. Old gutters have experienced numerous seasons, been exposed to corrosive elements, and perhaps even been struck by tree limbs. All of these factors weaken the material used to construct the gutters, and eventually, tiny tears or holes appear. Each new opening will cause leaks.
The gutter system may eventually have so many of these unwelcome openings that it resembles a roofline sprinkler rather than a gutter.
Unstable Gutters
Your gutters may be pulled a little bit away from your house due to storms, abuse, and the passage of time. When this occurs, it frequently looks as though you have leaks when, in fact, the water is escaping even before it enters the gutter system. The solution to this is to reattach them so they are snug to the roofline once more because it is coming through the opening between the roof and the gutters.
The issue can be resolved by cleaning out the gutter clogs. Normally, you can locate the clog by observing where the drip stops, but if the downspout is blocked, the drip will extend the entire length of the gutters above.
In-between-Section Gaps
If your gutter system is constructed in sections, each one must be firmly fastened to the subsequent one(s) in order for everything to function as intended. These sections may slightly separate over time or as a result of direct damage, leading to leaks. The issue will be resolved if the gutters are properly reassembled, but it’s crucial to use techniques that will withstand the forces that caused them to separate in the first place.
Unsuitable Gutter Slope
There is a good chance that this is the cause of your gutters dripping because it is one of the most difficult problems for a homeowner to identify. The “grade” of the gutters may point away from the downspout rather than toward it due to several factors, including sagging gutters, incorrect initial installation, and others. The gutters then overflow and fill up with water, much as if they were clogged. To correct this, they must be reinstalled with the proper slope.
Identifying the Root Cause of Your Leaky Gutter
Often, simply looking will reveal the cause of a dripping gutter. This is particularly true if there is corrosion, whether it is present randomly or at the joints where the gutter sections are connected. If nothing similar is apparent, wait until it rains before going outside to observe the leak pattern. Usually, you can see whether the water is entering through the bottom of the troughs, over the sides, or between the gutter and the edge of the roof.
Check the downspout while you’re out there; if nothing is coming out of it and no water is coming through the gutter’s trough either, it’s probably clogged. Call Reynolds Gutters to inspect your gutters today!