Gutter Problems

Gutter sagging. Too much weight inside your gutters can cause them to sag or pull away from your home. Sagging often occurs when there is a buildup of excess debris inside the gutters themselves, such as when gutters are not cleaned often enough. Gutters may also pull away from the home when the surrounding wood rots or the hangers that secure the gutters to the wood have become damaged or bent. Sagging gutters may lead to leaks and standing water, a breeding ground for insects. This problem can often be solved by readjusting, replacing, or fixing any malfunctioning hangers or spikes. This may be difficult to do if the wood surrounding these hangers is rotten or old. A gutter installation professional should have the necessary tools for the repair. However, at some point, it may be more cost effective to replace the gutters than to continue to fix them.

Gutter leaks. Leaks can occur at loose joints, corroded areas, or holes or cracks in the gutter material. A leaky gutter can cause water damage to the surrounding fascia and can lead to water damage inside your home as water seeps into the basement or foundation. If gutters are tight against the siding, water may seep directly into the wall. The best time to check for leaks is during rainy weather, when you can see exactly how your water drainage system is performing in action.

Overflowing gutters. Gutter overflow with traditional gutters usually occurs when gutters are too small, the pitch of the gutters is off, or they are full of debris. Gutter cap systems may overshoot when they are improperly installed or are in certain high-flow areas, like the bottom of a valley in the roof. During gutter overflow, water will bypass the gutters and land directly on the ground below. This increases the chance of flooding or water damage to your home.