Gutters are an essential part of protecting your home from leaks, foundation erosion and yard damage, but they’re not indestructible. Depending on how old your home is, and the type of gutters you have, you will have to replace your gutters every once in a while. How frequently you need to replace them and when you need to replace them are dependent on a few factors, but if your gutters are experiencing any of the following, it’s their time to be replaced.
1. Standing Water
If you see standing water in your gutters, something is definitely off. Gutters are supposed to allow water to flow freely so the water can be properly disposed of. If there is standing water, there is some sort of blockage. Unfortunately, gutter blockages can be difficult to find and replacement gutters frequently need to be purchased to replace the old gutter with the blockages.
2. Sagging Gutters
Not only can sagging gutters be a sign of excessive standing water, but sagging can also be a sign that your gutters’ brackets may be loose. While brackets can sometimes be repaired or replaced, when left untreated, sagging gutters can cause further damage (sometimes to the home’s exterior) and need to be replaced.
3. Rust
If you have metal gutters, they can be prone to rust. As you may be familiar with, rust can cause corrosion, and if your gutters corrode, they can no longer hold water. When you see major rust you should install new gutters before the rusted metal completely breaks off and rain water drops onto your home or yard.
4. Water Damage & Mold
Seeing water damage or mold in your basement or on the exterior of your home? It could be caused by a faulty gutter systems carrying moisture to the wrong areas. If you see water damage or mold you should immediately get your gutters inspected, as broken gutter systems are one of the most common causes of that excess moisture.
5. Soil Erosion
As we mentioned above, protecting your soil is one of your gutter system’s main jobs, so if you’re seeing thin or eroded soil, it’s almost always caused by the lack of gutters or a broken gutter system. Not only is soil erosion bad for your yard, but it can also lead to foundation issues.
6. Foundation Issues
With soil erosion and excess moisture in your yard comes foundation issues. When water gets absorbed near the foundation for long periods of time, it can cause the foundation to shift and crack which can obviously cause major damage to your home and is much more expensive to repair than a broken gutter.
7. Cracks & Gaps
If you notice gaps between your gutters or cracks and fractures on your gutters, you have an issue that should be solved immediately. Your gutters should be seamless and free from gaps and cracks, and any existing gaps and fractures should be immediately remedied as they can grow much larger in size, creating even greater problems for your gutter system and your home.
Were your fears about your gutter system confirmed? If so, you need to get your gutters repaired or replaced so give our experts at New Vision Exterior Solutions a call today!