Heavy rainfall collecting at the base of your home can lead to basement flooding, mold, and water-related damage to your foundation, siding, and roof. And that’s why it’s so important to ensure your gutters are functioning properly: to protect your home from disastrous water damage.
If your gutters need repair, early intervention can be the difference between a quick fix and much more expensive fixes. When inspecting your exterior for possible damage, here are the key signs that your home needs gutter repair as soon as possible:
Signs You Need Gutter Repair: Gutter Damage
The first place to check when checking for possible gutter issues is your gutters themselves. Any visible damage or malfunctions directly on your gutters may put your home at risk and should be inspected for possible repair. Here are five particularly concerning forms of gutter damage that indicate a need for urgent gutter repair:
1. Gutters Sagging or Pulling Away
Gutters that are sagging or even pulling away from your roof usually have been bogged down by the weight of too much standing water or heavy debris. Usually, this is caused by clogged gutters. While cleaning out clogged gutters is important, you likely need to have your gutters repaired as well if the clog has led to sagging or pulling away which affects the integrity of your gutters.
Since these gutters are uneven and not sturdily attached to the roof or fascia board, they won’t catch rainwater and divert it away from your home as well as they are designed to, resulting in water pouring off your roof and down your siding to collect at the foundation of your home. To prevent your gutters from sagging or pulling away, clean them regularly (or hire gutter cleaners) or invest in gutter protection to avoid clogs altogether.
2. Gapping Between Gutter Sections
Gaps between sections of your gutters indicate that water has space to drip down, preventing water from flowing all the way through the gutter system and out the downspout as intended. Unless you have seamless gutters, you should check each gutter section’s connection points to ensure there isn’t any gapping allowing water to drip down.
Gapping is also often caused by clogs impeding the flow of water, as the extra weight can cause sections of your gutters to pull apart.
3. Gutter Hardware on the Ground
If you find pieces of gutter hardware littering the ground around your home’s exterior, it is definitely time for gutter repair! Each piece of your gutter system is integral to holding the gutters firmly in place so they can do your job. Even if you don’t see any water damage or other consequences of ineffective gutters, finding hardware on the ground means that your gutter system it is beginning to wear down and needs to be repaired or replaced.
4. Discolored or Rusting Gutters
Discoloration from mildew or water staining—in addition to actual rust—indicated gutters that are not properly sealed against water damage. Although the gutters may still work for a while, it’s best to replace them right away instead of waiting for the metal to break down entirely.
Signs You Need Gutter Repair: House Damage
Just because your gutters appear fine to the naked eye doesn’t mean they’re faultless! As you inspect your gutter system, you should also check your house itself for signs of water damage. If you find any of the following water damage issues on your property, it’s likely a sign of gutters in desperate need of repair:
5. Mildew or Staining in the Attic
If water is being held up in your gutter system, it may begin to flood under your roof and into the attic. Check the wood under the eaves in your attic for rotting, mold, or water stains. If you find these signs of water damage in your attic, have your gutters inspected by a professional right away.
6. Water Collecting Around Exterior
If water is pooling around the base of your home, this can lead to significant damage to your basement and foundation. Gutters exist to prevent water from pooling around your home, so these puddles may indicate leaking gutters that should be inspected and repaired.
7. Paths of Peeling Paint on Siding
Take a look at your siding. Are there any vertical strips of paint bubbling or peeling? This can happen if water runs in tracks down your siding frequently, and it likely means there is gutter damage above this peeling zone.
When Your Gutters Are Beyond Repair
If your gutters are failing to do their job correctly and creating excessive amounts of damage to your home, repairs may not be enough. The best way to guarantee your gutters will do their job all year round for the life of your home is by installing a maintenance-free gutter system. Our K-Guard gutter systems are seamless, clog-proof, and built to withstand all manner of weather conditions. Contact us to learn more about how our gutter system can protect your home!
