Top 5 Signs Your Gutters Are Leaking
When the rainy season hits, you want to make sure your home is up to the challenge. Otherwise, you’ll face issues with interior leaks and water damage.
But without expert-level knowledge of roofs and gutters, how can you tell that your gutters are leaking?
Rescue My Roof has been in the roofing industry for over a decade, educating customers on the best care for their homes. We guide them through every roofing problem so their roof can continue to keep their homes and families safe.
We will do the same for you, too. We’ve compiled all the signs of a gutter leak so that you can recognize it and repair it ASAP when you notice the issue.
At the end of this article, you’ll know if your gutters need repair before it’s too late and the damage is done.
Signs Your Gutters are Leaking
Worried your gutters are doing more harm than good? You’re in the right place.
Here are the top signs you need to know to determine whether or not your gutters are leaking.
1. Dripping Water
Gutters are designed to collect the water from your roof and deposit it to the ground using downspouts. This system ensures that the water is kept away from your home’s foundation.
When gutters begin to overflow or leak, and you notice water dripping from in-between the house and gutters or even from the edge of the gutters, you may want to call in a roofing expert to determine if it’s genuinely a problem.
If left untreated, you may notice basement flooding and additional interior damage.
Catch the issue early and save your pockets from the cost of repair.
2. Cracks or Peeling Paint
Cracks forming in the gutters are easy to spot, but many homeowners don’t notice peeling paint as a sign of leaking gutters.
Whether your painted siding is peeling or your gutters are peeling, the issue can be traced back to excess water being where it shouldn’t.
If you notice this sign alongside others on this list, it may be time to replace your gutters.
3. Rusted Gutters
Rusting gutters doesn’t happen very often. But when it does, you’ll want to be prepared to get new ones.
Many houses today are equipped with newer aluminum gutters. Aluminum gutters cannot rust and can last the lifetime of the home.
Older steel gutters can rust.
Rust is a chemical reaction when oxygen, water, and metals like steel and iron interact. Rust eats away at the metal, compromising your gutter system.
Over time, what may appear as minor rust damage can become holes in your gutters, leading to leaks.
Depending on the extent of the damage, rust can be repaired. A professional can clean the rusted area of all debris and coat the area in a metal primer. The coating will delay any further rust damage.
However, if the rust begins to create holes in your gutters, that is not so easily repaired. Check-in with local roofing professionals to see if the damage can be repaired or if you will need to replace the gutters.
4. Sagging
Older, damaged, or less efficient gutters may begin to pull away from the house and look like they are sagging.
Gutters are installed slightly pitched so the water can flow through them. When they begin to sag, this can ruin that effect and lead to clogs or water overflow.
As we’ve discussed before, overflowing gutters can lead to many issues, including expensive interior damage.
Call in a roofing expert for an estimate to determine the cause of the issue and to see if a gutter replacement is in the cards for you.
5. Rotted Soffit and Fascia
Fascia is a long, straight board that runs along the edge of your roof. When looking at your home straight on, the fascia board will be running horizontally alongside the roof’s edge.
Fascia is directly attached to the roof’s edge, providing a space for the gutters to hang off. The fascia is also necessary for your roof because gutters are essential to protecting the exterior walls from water damage.
Soffit is another board that is tucked underneath the fascia. When you look straight-on at a house from a distance, you will only be able to see the fascia.
If you move closer to the home to where you can see under the roof’s ledge, you will be able to see where the soffit board is hidden. It will be connected to the fascia at an angle and reaches across the home’s exterior.
Soffit is the ideal place to hide intake vents necessary for your roof’s ventilation. When hot air rises to the top of your attic space and escapes through the exhaust vents, cool air is needed to replace it and maintain airflow throughout your home.
When these components rot, your gutters can begin to sag and lead to additional issues.
This issue can be tough to spot, so an expert needs to come out to your home when you notice any of the more minor signs.
An expert can properly diagnose the problem and ensure you get the right service.
What Do You Do When Your Gutters Are Leaking?
When you notice rust, sagging, or leaking, the efficient – and recommended – response is to call a roofing contractor.
Often when homeowners notice the signs or attempt DIY repairs, they don’t accurately diagnose the issue.
Additionally, the homeowner may think they just need a repair when, in actuality, they need to have their gutters replaced.
To ensure you’re spending your money on the right service, call a local roofing contractor to give you an estimate. From there, they can inspect your gutters, determine the problem, and help you solve it.
If you’re not ready to begin the process, we have just the thing. Read “What to Expect at Your Roof Estimation Appointment” and “How Much Does it Cost to Replace Your Gutters?”
If you’ve noticed the signs of leaky gutters, you can contact Rescue My Roof to schedule your free, fast, and honest roof estimate.