Owning a home is the ultimate dream for many. You get a place to truly call your own, and you get to build equity instead of spending money on rent. However, homeownership is not all sunshine and rainbows. It also comes with a number of very serious responsibilities. The most important of which is maintenance.
Failing to maintain your home leads to costly repairs and can even lower your home’s value. One of the most often forgotten maintenance items on a home is the gutter system. This is unfortunate, as water is one of the most damaging things when it comes to your home, and gutters are one of the main defenses against it. Let’s look at the most common gutter problems you should be able to recognize as a homeowner.
Clogged Gutters
This is the most common gutter issue. Clogged gutters prevent water from draining, leading to it pooling on the roof, which can cause substantial damage. A clogged gutter will also cause water to spill over the sides, causing damage to the siding, foundation, and landscaping around a house. Clogs are caused by leaves, twigs, pine needles, dirt, and other debris accumulating inside gutters over time. You can recognize a clog by noticing overflowing water during rainfall, visible debris, and plants growing inside gutters. Cleaning gutters regularly, particularly during fall when leaves accumulate, and inspecting them after major storms will go a long way towards preventing the formation of clogs.
Sagging or Detached Gutters
Gutters are attached to the home using a series of hangers and fasteners. The weight of accumulated debris, standing water, and ice can place strain on this hardware, causing the gutter to detach or sag away from the house. This can prevent water from draining properly and potentially allow water to collect near the roofline or spill over the edges. You can recognize a sagging or detached gutter by looking for gutters that appear to pull away from the roofline, appear uneven, or visibly droop. A visual inspection of the gutters should be a part of your regular home maintenance checklist.
Leaking Gutters
If your gutters are leaking, it pretty much defeats their purpose. Leaks can be caused by cracks, holes, corroded sections, and failing seams. Any of these can form due to stress, storms, or old age. Leaking gutters are a serious matter, as they can contribute to exterior water damage, soil erosion, and moisture accumulation around the foundation. Signs of a gutter leak include dripping water from joints, visible cracks, rust spots, and water stains on siding. Luckily, these signs are easy to spot and should be quite apparent to you when inspecting your gutters.
Improper Gutter Slope
Despite what you may think, gutters are not completely level. They actually have a slight slope to them. This slope causes water to run towards the downspouts. If the slope is improper, water will not go where it is supposed to. Instead, it will fill the gutter, eventually overflowing and causing damage to the siding and foundation of the building. In many cases, improper slope is caused by poor installation, but it can also happen due to a gutter shifting out of position over time. Luckily, this can usually be fixed easily by a professional gutter installer. They will be able to adjust your gutter to the perfect slope.
Downspout Problems
All of the water collected by your gutters eventually makes its way to a downspout, which is positioned in a way to direct water away from the house. If there is a problem with a downspout, it can cause saturated soil around the foundation and contribute to basement moisture problems or landscaping erosion. Possible downspout problems can include being clogged with debris, becoming disconnected from gutters, or being damaged by weather and physical impact. To fix a downspout issue, it may just need to be cleaned or adjusted. However, sometimes a full replacement is necessary.
Should You Repair or Replace Your Gutters?
Whether repair or replacement is the right answer will depend on the extent of the damage, the age of the system, and whether problems are isolated or recurring. Minor leaks, loose fasteners, localized damage, and isolated drainage issues will often only require repair. On the other hand, extensive corrosion, widespread cracking, repeated failures, or significant deterioration may require full replacement. The best way to know is to have a professional in gutter installation inspect your system. They will be able to determine the extent of the damage and the proper path forward.
