While gutters are out of sight and mind most of the time, they actually play an important role in maintaining the structural integrity of your building. The main purpose of gutters is to channel water away from your home.
If gutters become clogged or there is leakage, water will be unable to properly flow away from your home. The water will instead spill over the side of the gutters, leading to different issues like basement flooding, foundation damage, mildew, and mold growth. These issues can grow expensive, costing you thousands of dollars to repair the damage. The best way to avoid them is to identify problems and take the necessary steps to resolve them before the matter gets worse.
Here are the three most common gutter problems homeowners may encounter. The solution for each of these problems may be as simple as clearing debris or as tedious as rehanging the gutters. Nevertheless, learning how to identify your gutter issue is the first step to fixing it.
Blocked or Clogged
One common problem any homeowner may encounter is dirty gutters. While gutters are designed to collect water running off the roof to drain away from your home, they can also collect leaves, twigs, moss, and other debris that can fall into them. If left unattended, these things will build up in your gutters and block the pipes. Ultimately, this will cause your gutters to overflow, which can result in foundational damage.
Luckily, this problem also has a straightforward solution. You will need to climb around the perimeter of your roof and clear out the debris collected on your gutters. Another great solution is to install gutter guards. The gutter guards are designed to help keep most of the debris out of your gutters, and they come in various styles.
Leaking Joints
Another common gutter problem is leakage in the gutter joints. The joints are critical points of your gutter system, and they must be attained with special care when cleaning or repairing your gutters. Leaks can occur as a result of general wear and tear, or they can be caused by unattended bits of debris stocked in the joints.
If you have spotted a leak in your gutter joints, fixing it can be a low-maintenance task. You can use gutter sealant or plastic roofing cement to patch small, leaky seams. However, if the hole is large, you may need more than this simple solution. The best thing for you to do is hire a gutter repair professional to fix your gutter system. They can properly fix the damage and ensure the home is protected.
Gutter Slope
For water to flow properly, your gutters have to be pitched correctly, and the slope should be at the correct angle. It’s easy to tell if your gutters are not pitched properly. After the rain, you can see some of the water just sitting in the gutter. It can get worse during heavy rainfall. If your gutter is not pitched correctly, it will struggle to drain the water quickly to prevent overflowing.
Sometimes this problem can be fixed by simply rebending the slope into place. For a more severe issue, you will need to remove and reinstall the hangers. While you can do this task yourself, it would be much easier to have it done by a professional who has the right tools and knows how to fix a gutter slope properly.
Knowing simple repair methods for common gutter problems is a great way to avoid costly and time-consuming repairs. At Horizon Roofing and Construction, we aim to reduce the need for costly future home repairs by offering quality, proper gutter care, installation, and repair services. If your gutters are not running properly, contact us ASAP to resolve the issue before new ones snowball into more problematic trouble.