Gutters are designed to funnel rainwater away from your home to prevent foundation damage and soil erosion, and when they’re leaking, they’re not doing their job which can lead to costly home repairs down the line. If you notice that your gutters may be leaking, it’s likely due to one of the following causes.
1. Clogged Gutters
The most common cause of gutter leakage are clogged gutters. When leaves, dirt, and other debris accumulate in your gutters the water doesn’t have a clear path to travel through and leave through the downspout. Clogs cause water to spill over the top of your gutters, run down the sides of your gutters, or drip down the side of your home. To check if a clogged gutter is the problem of your leakage, you simply need to look inside the gutters to identify potential blockages. Of course, if you’re not comfortable doing that yourself, give a professional team of gutter repair and installation specialists a call.
2. Separated Joints
Gutters and downspouts are connected via joints and over time these joints can hold debris and water causing blockages for wain water to escape. This build-up can actually cause the joints to deteriorate and cause further issues. If the damage isn’t too bad, you can use caulking to fill the separation to once again allow water to flow freely. However, chances are the joints will need to be replaced.
3. Gutter Sloping
Gutter sloping is an art and a science, and if it’s done incorrectly, or your gutters have sagged over time, water can pool in the gutters. Pooling water can cause gutter rust and deterioration, leaving weak spots for water to leak from. Luckily, if your gutters are improperly sloping, and they haven’t started deteriorating you don’t have to completely replace them; just contact the professionals to properly adjust your gutter slope.
4. Loose Gutters
Having gutters that aren’t fully secured to your house can often make it look like the gutters are leaking, however, what’s actually happening is the water from your roof is missing the gutter completely and falling in between the gutter and the house. The solution to this issue is to reattach the gutters to your home’s fascia – creating a tighter seal for water to run off. Of course, further repairs may need to be completed if your home’s fascia has deteriorated, but that analysis will be made once you’re closely looking at the gutters.
5. Holes and Gapping
If your gutters have holes or gaps, the issue is a little easier to identify than some of the others on our list. After all, if there is a hole (or several) the water will escape in small sections, unlike the water leakage from having loose gutters or incorrectly sloped gutters. The solutions for repairing gutter holes and gapping are varied, but your specialist will either repair the holes or suggest a replacement if the repairs would not be successful.
If you’re noticing leaking gutters, you need to address the issue sooner rather than later. Luckily, all you need to do is call our experts at New Vision Exteriors for all your gutter repair needs. Give us a call today!