Warning signs that a home component is failing are never fun to encounter. However, those warning signs could alert us that it’s time to replace or repair something before it leads to extreme damage and costly repairs. Whether your home’s roof shingles appear to be warped, there’s a chip in your siding, or your gutters are sagging, paying attention to warning signs is important.
You can spot warning signs for various home components, but today we’re focusing on how to identify early signs of gutter failure. Continue reading for a checklist of warning signs so you can catch issues before they worsen.
Early Signs of Gutter Failure
Gutter failure can be a nightmare for homeowners, especially if it goes unnoticed and leaves water damage, foundation damage, or extensive landscaping damage. Luckily, there are early signs of gutter failure that, if spotted relatively early on, can reduce the risk of extreme water damage. Below are some early signs of gutter failure:
Sagging Gutters
Sagging gutters occur when gutters sag, most often from excess debris, heavy snow, or water accumulation that causes them to sink. Sagging gutters are an eyesore, sticking out like a sore thumb and calling attention to a dip around your gutter system. While they’re an eyesore, they present an even bigger problem; sagging gutters can cause the gutters to tear away from the home, resulting in extensive damage to your soffit, fascia, siding, and even the roof, depending on how the system was installed.
Peeling Paint
Some gutter systems have a factory finish, while some are painted. While painted gutters can add a bright pop or toned-down neutral to complement your home, the paint may peel or chip over time, resulting in an eyesore and potential damage. How? Gutter systems that aren’t made of a heavy-duty gutter material like aluminum can wear down quickly, causing the paint to peel or chip when exposed to the elements. Whether from hailstones, high humidity levels, or excess moisture, paint can peel.
Aside from paint peels or chips being a nuisance and distracting from a home’s beauty, it’s often a warning sign that your gutter system is failing. When the paint chips, it exposes the material underneath, causing it to corrode, rust, or develop holes or cracks. This allows water to seep through the holes or cracks in the material, causing it to deteriorate with time.
Pooling Water
When water doesn’t move through the gutter system or stays inside the gutters, it’s a sign you have pooling water, a common warning sign of gutter failure. Water should always flow through the gutters and into the downspouts; gutter systems are installed at a slight angle, or gutter pitch, to ensure water flows through optimally. Unfortunately, damaged gutter systems don’t move water through the system as effectively, causing pooling water. Your system may have clogged gutters or was installed with an incorrect slope – either way, it’s best to have it assessed to prevent water damage.
Landscape Erosion
Do your plants and shrubs that surround your home’s perimeter seem overwatered? Is there excess soil surrounding your landscaping? Can you see the roots of your plants? If so, you might have landscape erosion caused by faulty gutters. Failing gutters often cause landscape erosion from overflowing, clogged gutters that force water over the sides rather than through the downspouts, where it’ll be diverted away from the home’s foundation. Soil erosion makes it impossible to grow plants and shrubbery because it washes away the topsoil and organic material.
Should I Repair or Replace My Failing Gutters?
Most homeowners consider gutter repair versus gutter replacement, especially when they notice the above warning signs of gutter failure. Sometimes a simple repair is needed to get the gutters and downspouts working optimally again, while other times, an entire replacement is ideal. How can you determine whether a repair or replacement is the best? Several factors can help determine which is best:
Gutter damage that can be repaired is minor damage that can be fixed by a gutter repair company or the professional gutter installation company that installed your gutters. If your gutters are leaking slightly, have minor cracks, are loose, have damaged sections, or have damaged joints, it might be fixable. However, if your gutter system has rust/holes, or sagging, it most likely needs to be replaced.
A gutter installation company like K-Guard Heartland can help you determine whether to repair or replace; our team has decades of experience assessing old or damaged gutter systems. When you schedule a free estimate with K-Guard, we inspect your gutter system and give our recommendations on whether it’s time to replace it or not.
Never Worry About Gutter Failure Again and Install K-Guard Gutters with Our Gutter Replacement Service
Did you know that K-Guard will last for the life of the home? Our aluminum gutters are so durable that we offer transferable lifetime warranties, including a lifetime no-clog warranty, a paint warranty, and a workmanship warranty. K-Guard is better than other gutter guards and covers, protecting your home from water damage year-round. You’ll never need to worry about gutter failure again when you install K-Guard!
We also have a convenient estimation calculator that gives you a ballpark estimate for installing K-Guard Gutters. In just minutes, you can get a free quote without having to schedule an estimate to get a feel for the installation cost. Our installation process is simple, with three easy steps to get a lifetime gutter replacement. Contact K-Guard Heartland today for a free estimate, a detailed analysis of your current gutter system, and estimated costs for installing K-Guard on your home.
We look forward to helping with your gutter replacement by installing lifetime K-Guard Gutters!
