6 Primary Gutter Problems Homeowners Should Know

Maintaining Your Gutter In Good Shape Is The Key!

Keeping an eye on the condition of your gutters isn't a daily priority for you. In all likelihood, you don't give them any thought at all. That is, unless anything goes wrong, of course. For what reasons should you provide exceptional care to your gutters?

The primary function of gutters is to direct water away from a building's foundation. The foundation is the most crucial part of your home since it supports the entire structure. Maintaining functional gutters is essential for diverting water from the building's base. That's a reasonably solid argument for keeping them in tip-top shape.

Maintenance of the gutters can protect your home from water seepage.

Have no fear. Gutter maintenance is a breeze, including clearing out leaves and other debris. To detect issues, you don't need to keep a constant eye on them. Keeping up with a routine of routine maintenance is all that's required. They must be supervised for months on end.

If you commit to annual maintenance, your gutters will serve you well for many years.

6 Common Gutter Problems

• Gutters that don't work correctly or are clogged.

Clogged gutters are the most frequent issue we encounter. When gutters become blocked, they can't drain correctly and can start to overflow during rainstorms.

When the water can't travel through properly, it can cause difficulties with your foundation. That's why it's vital to maintain your gutters clean—you want the water to flow through them effortlessly.

Maintaining them twice a year will ensure that they remain clear of debris. Depending on the local environment, you can clean them out in the late fall after the leaves have fallen and again in the spring (March or April) to prepare for the April showers.

If you find excessive debris, gutter covers are another option to consider. But these are pricey and still need upkeep.

• Sagging or drooping

There may be other problems you'll encounter. Allow your gutters to clog up with material like leaves, twigs, and standing water. Gutter sagging is yet another consequence of this waste. This is frequently caused by loose hangers (the hardware that secures the gutters to the house), which pull out when they can't withstand the extra weight.

You can generally repair this by simply tightening the screws again. However, it could also be caused by the hangers being spaced too far apart. You'll need to replace them and space them appropriately if you do.

• Leaks & holes

If water is dripping down the center of your gutters, a hole or crack has likely formed. Holes and leaks are standard and usually not difficult to repair. You can use gutter sealant to caulk the seams and mend leaky seams, while larger holes must be patched.

Patching kits are commonly obtained at most hardware stores and are easy to use. If you need to repair a hole in your gutter, use the same material you originally installed it with to avoid further erosion.

• Damaged gutters

There are a variety of potential causes of gutter damage. The primary reason is the weather. Gutters are susceptible to damage or destruction during severe weather.

In this scenario, mending them can be as simple as rehanging them, or you might need to replace critical portions. All you can do is ensure your gutters are tight enough and placed correctly, but even that might be needed.

• Uneven gutter slope

Gutters need to be tilted (pitched) correctly so that water may flow freely through them. The hill should sit at the correct angle, at least a quarter inch for every 10 feet of gutter. If you suspect your gutters' pitch is incorrect, you can easily verify your suspicions.

When it rains, you must climb a ladder and check the gutters to determine if you need to change the pitch. It may be as simple as bending it back into position. Still, more involved tasks like replacing the hangers may be necessary.

• An inappropriate gutter system

Without gutters, water can pool and cause structural damage to a home. A reliable strategy can help protect your siding and foundation from the destructive forces of rain. If you require new gutters, it is recommended that you have a professional do the installation.

Most of the above issues can be avoided if you follow this advice. If you're looking for gutters, aluminum is a terrific material. If cared for properly, they may last forever.

What To Do When Your Gutter Is Leaking

You can take measures to remedy the situation if your property's gutters are constantly overflowing.

Heavy downpours may cause the gutter to overflow over the fascia and soffits. Still, average rainfall should prevent the gutter from overflowing.

The first step is checking that the gutter is overflowing instead of leaking because of a broken portion or other issues. Fixing gutter leaks is the subject of this hub.

If typical rainfall causes the gutter to overflow, try these solutions:

1. Having leaves, moss, and other material clogging up your gutter and rainwater pipe can drastically restrict the water flow and cause water to overflow during a downpour. If this is effective, you'll need to devote more time to gutter care or put up some gutter protection, like a gutter brush. Keep in mind that the downpipe is a common place for debris like leaves and dirt to become stuck.
2. It's essential to ensure that the roof tiles overhang into the gutter properly; if they don't, water may leak through the seams and pool on the ground.
3. Let a pail of water sit in the gutter to watch what happens. Everything is well if it's raining and the water is going down the drain. Removing the gutter and re-fitting it so that water flows back toward the pipe may be necessary if it is diverted away from the pipe.
4. While every part of your pipe is excellent, water is overflowing the gutter. Suppose you've eliminated options 1, 2, and 3 and still have this problem. In that case, you could upgrade to a gutter with a larger capacity or add more downspouts to catch the excess water.

Contact Boise Gutters For Your Gutter Repair & New Installation

Consider getting a new set if your home's gutters need to be more significant. You must be careful when adding extra rainwater pipes since they must eventually lead to a drain or soakaway system below. As you would imagine, this can rack up quite a bill.

If you think your gutter doesn't hold much water, a light rain causes them to leak. Maybe it is time to call Boise Gutters & Rain Contractors can help you with your new gutter installation.

We can build you a gutter to hold up the rainwater in our area. Or we can also help you repair a gutter for a pipe damaged due to weather and other factors. Contact our office today and get your assistance!