It might not be your favourite home maintenance chore but you realize how important the gutters are in protecting your home’s exterior from water damage. Cleaning the gutters once in the spring and again in the fall goes a long way to keeping the gutter system in good shape. But in between gutter cleaning there’s a lot you can do. Here are some gutter problems every homeowner should be aware of.
Clogged Gutters
If you have a lot of trees on your property and some of the trees grow next to the gutters and are taller than the roof, inspect the gutter system between gutter cleanings to ensure the gutters have not become clogged in the meantime. Especially if the trees are a mix of coniferous and deciduous, take into account that different types of trees shed at different times of year.
Check the gutter outlet for a build-up of twigs, leaves, blossoms, and seedpods that might not breakdown enough on their own to go through the gutter system.
Sagging Gutters
Sagging gutters can be the result of a number of issues.
Maintenance
Poorly maintained gutters are typically the culprit of most gutter problems. If cleaning the gutters is not done routinely, debris buildup can weigh (literally) the gutter system down, resulting in gutter sagging.
Fasteners, Screws, Etc.
Hardware that is aging, missing or has become damaged is a liability to a gutter system.
Not Enough Support
Screws holding the gutters in place need to be long enough to penetrate the fascia. If they are not, over time with general wear and tear they can lose their grip and pull away. When hardware is not the issue, check the number of brackets holding the gutter sections in place – for our Pacific Northwest climate it’s advisable to have the brackets spaced 18 inches (45.7 cm) apart.
Clogged Downspouts
When the gutters appear to be fine but water pools beneath the downspouts after a mild to medium rainfall inspect the downpipes for any blockages. As they get older, seams can separate, not only causing leaks but also providing places debris can become snagged.
A good place to start your investigation is at the top with a garden hose. From a ladder or using an extension pole, insert the nozzle into the gutter outlet and run water through the downspout. If the water exits the bottom downspout elbow easily it’s a good sign that no debris is blocking the way.
Gutters Leak
When gutters leak the cause is usually the seams where gutter sections are joined together have separated. The best time to check the gutter system for leaks is during a rainfall. Go outside and look specifically at the places where there are seams. If water is escaping, most often the problem can be fixed by reapplying sealant. If you have seamless aluminum gutters the leaks will occur only in the corners where two gutter runs (in different directions) are joined.
Not the Right Pitch
With the right pitch or a slight slope, rainwater is guided toward the gutter outlet and downspout. It is recommended that there is a quarter inch of slope every ten feet of gutter. One of the most common problems that result from gutters being improperly installed is incorrect pitch.
However, if your gutter system has been working fine up to recently, and debris in the gutters is not the issue, it could be that something has shifted. To check, look inside the gutter channel. If you see standing water it is likely the gutter pitch is not enough. Another issue that can result from an improper pitch is overflowing gutters. If this is the reason, the pitch is too much. In either case the gutter slope requires readjusting. Before hiring someone or tackling it as a DIY project, try tightening the hardware holding the gutters in place.
