How do you know when gutters are bad?

Gutters should not have large gaps. If there is a visible cut in the gutters, water will leak into your house or into the fascia. One of the warning signs that you need new gutters is cracks or cracks. The small cracks soon turn into much larger cracks that will cause big problems for water drainage.

A small crack can cause enough damage if water drips into vulnerable areas. Fix any cracks immediately by consulting a professional. A very serious consequence of improperly installed gutters is leaks inside your home. If you see water damage where the walls meet the roof, you could have gutter problems instead of roof problems.

One of the most difficult gutter problems to detect is an incorrect gutter slope. This can cause water to stagnate in the gutter or, worse, water to build up in the gutter at its lowest point. If you notice that your gutter doesn't drain without visible leaks, slope could be the problem. It's not as easy to fix as the others, but it will cause excess stress to your gutter system if it's not taken care of.

If you notice water stains on the fascia boards or roof, it's time to clean the gutters. Clogged gutters can cause water to stagnate and water to flow poorly. Not only do water stains look bad, they can also cause costly structural damage. If the water doesn't drain and the blockage continues, it can lead to mold and black mold.

Both pose a serious health risk to family members and tenants. Cleaning gutters regularly and performing occasional inspections are the best ways that you, as the homeowner, can care for your gutters. If water overflows down the sides of the gutters during a rainstorm, you may need gutter maintenance. If you start to see the gutters separate at those seams, it's likely that the gutters are near the end of their useful life.

The proper slope for gutters is ½ inch over 10 feet, but if the gutter is more than 40 feet long, you can tilt it in the middle to two different drain peaks. Even if your home is located away from falling trees and hail areas, gutter erosion will occur if you don't maintain gutters properly. To fix a gutter slope, you'll need to re-hang the gutter by taking out the hardware and re-measuring the pitch. Orange spots in or around gutters or near any nearby metallic areas are a sign that it's time to replace gutters.

Many things can go wrong, including installing a gutter with the wrong passage, incorrect hangar spacing, and using the wrong type of gutter. This causes excessive stress on that section of the gutter and can cause the hardware to fail, leading to further sag or, worse, total collapse of the gutter section. Learn the most common gutter problems, how to fix them before it's too late, and when it's time to completely replace gutters. If you don't notice these problems before they get out of hand, you'll need to call a professional to repair or replace the gutters.