The effort you take to prevent problems by maintaining your gutters properly is well worth the investment. Like they say, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Gutters need to be kept free from sagging, clogging, and developing problems—safeguarding your property from water damage.
Read on to discover the most common gutter issues and how to fix and prevent them in the future.
How to Avoid and Fix Common Gutter Problems
1. Clogged Gutters
This is the most common gutter problem there is because homeowners don’t realize the importance of cleaning out their gutters or having gutter guards installed to keep them clean. As a result, muck and debris clogs form at the base of their gutters due to asphalt shingle granules, dirt, leaves, pine needles, twigs, and more—which have found their way into your gutter system and keep water from flowing freely through it and away from your home.
How to fix this problem: Clean your gutters twice a year or have gutter guards installed to keep debris out and keep your gutters clog free.
2. Sagging Gutters
When gutters get clogged, as mentioned above, it’s usually due to leaves and debris building up in them. If that situation goes unnoticed, it will lead to standing water in your gutters. The problem is that your gutters weren’t designed to hold that kind of excess weight. They will begin to sag as a result and pull away from your home—creating an unpleasant look to your house and decreasing your curb appeal.
How to fix this problem: Keep your gutters clean, and you’ll prevent this problem in the first place.
3. Gutter Leaks
Gutters sometimes rust—leading to holes and unwanted leaks. And gutters with seams are more prone to developing holes in them.
How to fix this problem: If you spot a hole in your gutter system, inspect the problem to determine how big the hole is. Small ones can be filled by caulking the joint using gutter sealant. Large holes require a patch. Use a metal flashing kit found at a hardware store. To patch the gutter, use the same material as the gutter is made of.
4. Damaged Gutters
Depending on what they are made of and how well they were or weren’t installed, gutters tend to crack, split, and warp over time due to their exposure to the elements.
How to fix this problem: The solution depends on the type of damage your gutters have experienced. If your gutters are old and worn out, it may be time to replace them.
5. Downspout Too Close to Your Foundation
If your gutter’s downspout drains too close to your foundation, it will dump water into your basement, and can set you up for expensive issues (that could have been avoided!).
How to fix this problem: Attach gutter extensions to the end of your downspout to guide the water past your foundation and away from your home. They should be extended about four to five feet away from your house to protect it from water damage.
6. Improper Gutter Installation
For water to flow properly through your gutter system and away from your home, your gutters need to be installed at the proper pitch. There should be a quarter-inch slope for every ten feet of gutters, and they should be pitched toward your downspouts so water flows into them easily. If your gutters have standing water in them after a downpour, they aren’t properly pitched.
How to fix this problem: If you have improperly pitched seamless gutters on your home, contact a reputable contractor and have them fix your gutter slope. If you know who installed your gutters, reach out to that company so they can take care of the installation error.
7. No Gutters at All
If you bought a home with no gutters at all, it’s vital that you install a reliable gutter system to ensure your home is protected from water damage.
How to fix this problem: Hire a reputable contractor (like us!) to install a durable gutter system. Seamless aluminum gutters are a great choice and last decades when installed correctly.
LeafCo’s Guide to Common Gutter Problems
Learn more about all the issues you may face with your gutters in our handy guide.
Read the GuideGet Gutters Installed by a Trusted Chicago Area Contractor
It can feel frustrating to have gutter issues that make your home vulnerable to damage. At LeafCo Gutters, we offer stress-free gutter installation that can usually be done in one day, ensuring your home is well protected from water damage.
Concerned about your gutter problems? Learn how to combat additional gutter issues by checking out our comprehensive Homeowner’s Guide to Common Gutter Problems.
