5 Reasons For Leaky Gutters

While many homeowners see leaky gutters as a minor issue, it’s one that you don’t want to ignore. The problems can mount up fast and get costly to fix. That’s why you’ll want to find the reason for that leaky gutter quickly and get it solved. Here are some of the most common reasons for gutter leaks and what to do about them.

Solve Leaky Gutters Quickly

Why is it so important that you fix a leaky gutter quickly? While a leak may not do much damage at first, it will cause more problems the longer it’s left.

The longer the water is allowed to drip, it’ll cause more damage to your home’s siding, soffit, and fascia. If left long enough, it can even cause flooding and damage to your foundation. Of course, none of these problems are going to be cheap to fix, and they’ll cause a good amount of disruption to your home.

As a homeowner, of course, you don’t want any of these things to happen. As such, it’s better to inspect your gutters, along with the rest of your roof, regularly. If you do spot any problems, you can correct them quickly with a much smaller repair bill.

The Causes Of Leaky Gutters

So, why might you have leaky gutters? There are several different reasons, so the way you fix them will be different. Here’s what you need to be looking out for.

1. Clogged And Blocked Gutters

When it comes to leaky gutters, this is the most common reason for them. It’s very easy for debris to get blown into your gutters, such as leaves from nearby trees. This is especially true when there’s been a recent storm. If enough debris makes it into the gutters, then it will block them and start causing problems.

The water that should flow down the gutters will get backed up, overflowing back onto the roof. That will lead to the roof leaking and causing rot or mold issues in it. The water can also overflow off the side, so keep an eye out for that. In the winter, they can also lead to ice dams which lead to more water damage.

The lucky thing here is that cleaning your gutters is fairly simple. The only tools you’ll need are a ladder, some gloves, and a trash bag. Simply get up to your gutters, and scoop out any debris in there into the bag. If the downspout is clogged, it’s a little more difficult as you’ll need to disconnect it from the house in order to clean it out.

Once you’ve cleaned it out, there are some ways you can prevent them from getting clogged again. Many choose to install gutter guards, which stop most debris from getting in them. If there are trees near your home, you may choose to trim them back or even cut them down to prevent future damage from occurring.

2. Improperly Sealed Joints

There are several joints in your gutters, and when they’re properly sealed, water will not escape through them. If you see water coming from a joint, though, that’s a sign that the joint hasn’t been sealed properly or has started to come apart.

Usually, you can quite easily solve the problem by removing the old sealant and applying a new one. Once you’ve done this, test the seal by pouring in some water. If this doesn’t work, then you may need to replace the joint itself.

3. Cracking And Holes

Another reason you have leaky gutters could be due to weathering over time. Even the best made gutters will eventually wear out, and so you’ll need to check and see if there are any cracks or holes that are causing them to leak. Sometimes these will be very obvious, while other times, you’ll need to pour some water in them to see where the leaks are happening.

Once you’ve found them, you’ll be able to start repairs. If it’s a small leak or crack, then you can simply apply some waterproof caulk over it to seal it back up. If the cracks are more severe, though, you may want to look into replacing these sections of the gutter entirely.

4. Loose Fasteners

The fasteners that attach your gutters to the fascia boards of your home are highly important. When used properly, they’ll hold the gutters steady and allow them to do their job. When they come loose, though, it can lead to all sorts of problems. For example, the water in the gutters can leak directly onto the facia boards, causing them to rot.

If this is left to happen for long enough, you’ll need to have the whole fascia board replaced, as well as having the gutters rehung. It’s a time-consuming job and one that can be avoided if you spot it fast enough. If the fasteners have just come a little loose, you can re-tighten them and add some caulking around them to make them watertight. If that doesn’t work, replacing the fasteners will often do the job.

5. Improper Gutter Slope

Another issue with loose fasteners is that they can allow the gutters to sag. This affects the slope of your gutters. When installed, they should have a slight downward slope that allows the water to flow freely. Once they start to sag, though, that will affect the water flow. The gutters will also sag due to the weight of water over time.

This isn’t the easiest fix on this list, as it will require some work. To fix gutter sagging, you’ll need to rehang either sagging sections or the entire gutter itself. It’s important you do so, though, as it will cause more damage over time if you leave it.

Conclusion

Now you know just why your gutters may be leaking. In most cases, it’s very easy to put right; you just need to make sure you’re doing it as soon as possible. Once you do, you’ll have perfectly working gutters again, without the risk of leaks and water damage.