5 Common Reasons for Dripping Gutters – Family Roofing

Posted on by David Reid

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At Family Roofing, we take great pride in our experience, expertise, quality and customer service. It is our mission to provide excellent workmanship and complete customer satisfaction from start to completion of a project. Our reputation is based on service, safety and quality, regardless of how large or small the job.

 

5 Common Reasons for Dripping Gutters

“Why Are My Gutters Dripping?” is a question worth exploring.  It is not uncommon for people to ignore leaking gutters.  When you see a little water dripping from your gutter, it is important to understand what may be the cause.

First, we recommend that you have a professional meet with you to inspect your gutter systems.  Begin with a walk around the exterior of your home. You don’t need to climb a ladder and risk a fall.

Loose Fasteners

Your rain gutters are attached to the fascia boards with a screw, nail, or hanger.  These go straight through the side of the gutter and into the fascia board.  When loose, they create small leaks around the hole of the fastener.  When there is a hole, there is a dripping gutter.  Loose fasteners also cause the next item, improper gutter slope.

Improper Gutter Slope

Over time, gutters will sag.  One reason is because of loose fasteners.  So that rain water drains towards the downspouts, your gutters should be installed with a slight downward slope.  When fasteners are loose, rain water will weigh down the gutter and change the slope.  When this happens, you will have a dripping gutter.

When a gutter sags, often times, the best way to fix is to have the sagging sections re-hung.

Cracks or Holes

Small cracks and holes are repaired by sealing with a special waterproof gutter sealant.  If not repaired, the smaller cracks and holes will enlarge over time and you’ll notice your gutters dripping.

If holes are large, the best way to resolve is to replace the entire section of gutter.

Clogged Gutters

Clogged gutters cause rain water to back-up and not flow through the downspout.  When water backs up, it will pour over the sides and edges of the gutter.

It’s very important to keep your gutters and downspouts clean from leaves and debris.  Worse things can happen with clogged gutters, than just water flowing over the sides and edges.

5. Separated Joints

The gutter section joints–especially in the corners or ends, eventually begin to separate over time.  Your gutters should be resealed and tightened  when you have your gutters cleaned.