If you’re like most people, you probably don’t think about your gutters until there’s a problem. And by then, it’s often too late. Leaks, overflowing water, and clogged gutters can all lead to some serious damage to your home. So how can you tell if your gutters need repair? Here are 15 warning signs that it might be time for Gutter Repair.
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1. The Gutter is Packed with Leaves
Leaves are a nuisance. They gather naturally as trees shed their leaves each fall, and homeowners have to do a lot of work to prevent them from piling up too much. But if you never clean out your gutters, those leaves can cause some serious problems. That’s because they pack together and create a barrier that traps water in the gutter system. Rotting leaves mixed with water can turn into a sort of sludge that will damage both your roof and foundation if left untreated. If you see piles of leaves building up around your gutters, it’s time for Gutter Repair.
2. The Downspouts Are Damaged
It shouldn’t be surprising that something as big as your roof is going to have problems sometimes. Gutter Repair can help you when you notice water leaking into your house or yard. Or, the damage might be more extensive if part of your gutter system has broken off. Either way, there are warning signs that all homeowners need to know. For example, if downspouts are no longer draining properly because their seams have rusted out or they’ve been crushed by a tree branch, it might be time for repair.
3. You See Damaged Gutters
Water doesn’t just cause leaks in your roof and foundation when it stays in the gutters too long–it can also damage the gutters themselves! Over time, water will wear away at metal gutters until they start to rust. Meanwhile, the seams on aluminum gutters will start to loosen and leak as well. If they’re not replaced soon, your gutters will be too worn to do their job properly. That means more water damage for you! Check out these signs that it’s time for new gutters:
- Cracks or dents in the metal (especially along seam lines)
- Torn or damaged screens
- Loose fittings like screws or clamps
4. You See Broken Downspouts
Gutters aren’t the only things that can cause problems. If the downspout is damaged, it won’t be able to handle water from your gutters properly. Water will instead overflow directly into the foundation of your home. That’s not just a problem with standing water–it can also create some serious erosion over time! If you notice missing or broken pieces on your downspouts, call for Gutter Repair soon before you have more issues to worry about.
5. There are Water Stains on Your Home
Your roof might not seem like an important part of maintaining your house paint job, but it’s actually pretty important. When water pools in spots on your roof, it will eventually damage your paint. If your gutters are damaged, think about how much water can seep back there. It’s a lot! If you notice dark spots on the paint or staining around windows and doors, it may mean that there is too much water pooling where the gutters need to be repaired.
6. The Gutters Have Frozen Solid
There’s nothing like the first snowfall of winter to make you want to stay inside and relax. But that doesn’t mean that your gutters will be able to handle all that extra weight. After a heavy snow, your gutters may be filled with ice and clogged with hard-packed snow and ice. If this happens, it could lead to some serious problems around your house. For example:
- The walls on your home can split from shifting weights as the water freezes inside them
- Water pools in the gutter system instead of draining away from your yard
7. You Have Mud ‘Streaks’ on Your Home Regularly
If you live in an area where it rains a lot, you’ll probably notice mud streaks on your home from time to time. These are caused by water that flows down the sides of your house, picking up various types of debris as it goes. Usually this just means a little bit of brushing before you paint. But if those streaks have been coming back for a long time or they’re accompanied with other signs, you may need Gutter Repair sooner rather than later!
8. You Can’t See Down the Full Length of Your Gutters
If you’ve got gutters that come all the way around your house and meet at a central downspout, there’s no bigger sign that something is wrong than when you can’t look through them properly! That’s because water should be flowing out through your gutters, not pooling against the foundation of your home. If this is happening, you need to contact our professionals at Gutter Repair immediately to avoid even bigger problems down the road!
9. There’s a Dark Streak Down the Side of Your House
Have you noticed this dark streak starting to form on the side of your house? About one foot up from the ground, you’ll see a mark that slowly expands its way down your siding. This is actually water seeping in underneath your paint – two signs it’s time for serious gutter repair are when you can see it and when there are already cracks visible in your paint around windows or doors. If left alone too long, these leaks can cause major damage to both your home’s paint and the wood underneath.
10. You Hear Gurgling or Sloshing Sounds in Your Gutters
When you hear sounds coming from your gutters, that’s usually a sign that water is moving through them faster than it should be. It could also mean there are some holes or cracks letting air into the system where they shouldn’t be! Either way, if you’ve got this problem, it’s time to call for Gutter Repair before any major damage is done to your home.
11. There’s Mud All Over Your Yard
It’s important for all homeowners to make sure their downspouts are free of debris, but when they’re clogged with mud (and especially when the ground around them is muddy as well), that can mean there are already some big issues with your downspouts. The best way to fix the problem is by calling for Gutter Repair right away. No one wants to spend their weekends clearing out mud!
12. You’ve Got Leaves Piling Up Near Your Home
If you notice leaves piling up near your home, it could be a sign of clogged gutters. This is because clogged gutters won’t drain properly – instead, they fill up and eventually trees will dump their leaves all over your yard (or your roof!). Call us if this happens, or if you’re noticing little bits of debris like twigs or acorns that never seem to go away around your foundation area.