Did you know that you’re supposed to replace your gutters every 20 years? This may sound like a long time, but the gutters of most homes tend to experience serious problems before they can ever reach this age.
So, if you want your gutters to last a long time, what kind of gutter problems should you know about and try to prevent? There are 5 common gutter problems you should know about and you’ll learn about all of them in this article. To start off, let’s take a look at every homeowner’s nightmare: clogged gutters.
1. Dealing With Clogged Gutters
When it comes to all the different types of gutter problems, you likely already know that clogged gutters are among the most inconvenient. Autumn and spring are the two seasons where gutters seem to get clogged the most. This is due to the whirlwind of falling leaves, flowers, buds, and other organic matter.
Interestingly, even though clogged gutters are one of the most common gutter issues, they are also one of the most ignored. Many homeowners, even if they see leaves piled up in the gutters, don’t make any effort to clean the gutters out. Many believe that leaves can’t do that much damage, but this is incorrect.
Gutters that are clogged not only have a difficult time draining as they should; they can actually damage your home’s foundation over time. This is because, instead of water flowing through the gutters, water tends to overflow out of them. The impact of this water will eventually damage the foundation surrounding your home which can create problems much more serious than clogged gutters.
More than that, certain animals may be attracted to the organic matter in the gutters. If this is the case, then these animals can scratch up or break the gutters. They may also damage the roofing as well.
The solution to this problem is simply to keep your gutters clean. By getting a ladder and climbing up to the gutters with some safety gloves, you can scoop out the debris and toss it away without any problems.
2. Sagging Gutters
When it comes to the signs of gutter problems, sagging gutters may be the most obvious. This is because anyone can spot sagging gutters even from yards away. This problem involves gutters drooping in places where they shouldn’t.
This problem may happen for a variety of reasons. The problem with sagging gutters is that water tends to stagnate within the sag. When this happens, that part of the gutter can sustain damage over time.
If you don’t treat this problem, the result will likely be the entire section of the gutter collapsing. More than that, this kind of gutter issue may also damage your home’s foundation, much like clogged gutters. This problem may also cause rot or mold to form at some spots of your home.
The solution is to call the professionals to fix the problem for you. They will be able to bring all the right tools and materials to dispose of the damaged gutters and install new ones.
3. The Wrong Gutter Slope
All gutters need to have a certain slope to drain water properly. If this slope changes, you can imagine that plenty of problems would ensue. One of the biggest problems is water stagnating in the gutters.
It can be hard to see an incorrect gutter slope because it may be minuscule. A good way to diagnose this problem is to see if the gutters have trouble draining despite a lack of leaks or clogs. Stagnating water in the gutters will eventually damage the gutters themselves since they are put under undue strain.
Since this is a very precise problem, it is not recommended that you fix an incorrect gutter slope yourself. Instead, call the professionals. They will know how to correct the problem and install new gutters if need be.
If you think your gutters might be sloped improperly, it’s best to call the professionals sooner than later. The longer you wait, the higher the chance of your entire gutter system failing.
4. Leaking Gutters
Leaking gutters is a very obvious gutter problem. Leaking gutters tend to happen after a storm. Sticks, glass, and other objects may hit your gutters and tear holes into the metal. You won’t know you have a gutter leak unless you walk around and look for them.
Checking for leaks after a storm is the easiest way to find them. You will be able to see if any water is dripping where it shouldn’t. If you find any leaks, you should get them repaired right away.
This is because leaking gutters tend to only get worse due to erosion of both the gutters and the foundation of your home.
5. Gutter Damage
A tree doesn’t have to fall on your house to cause serious damage to your gutters. Rather, if you leave any of the previous problems unattended, you can end up with some pretty severe gutter damage. As with anything you want to last a while, you need to care for your gutters and make sure they stay maintained.
Leaving damaged gutters unattended will only create more problems for your home. For that reason, once you notice that your gutters are no longer working as they should, don’t hesitate to call the professionals. Once you do, you’ll find that your gutter problems will be fixed in no time.
Everything You Need to Know About Gutter Problems
Now that you know all about the most common gutter problems, you should also know about the importance of having these problems treated by professionals. From sagging to clogged gutters, even the slightest issues can cause big problems for your home.
To learn more, contact us here.
