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A clog is the most common reason behind leaking gutters.  When rainwater cascades down, it fills the rain gutters with leaves and debris.  Over time, these can lead to a clog.  As a result of a clog, the water won’t flow out of the downspout.  Instead, it will flow over the sides or even flow up.

Damages

Tough weather conditions can cause damages even in the toughest rain gutters.  This brings us to the next reason behind leaking rain gutters.  If there are small holes and cracks in your rain gutter system, you will notice minor leakage.  But, the small drips can grow bigger over time.  The simplest way to check any cracks is to pour water down the rain gutters. Mark the spots where the water leaks.

Leaking Joints 

Joints are the points where sections of rain gutters meet.  With time, the joints may show some leakage.  So, if you see a leakage close to the joint, check the area carefully.  You may notice that joints have started separating at the points of leaks.  Here as well, if you don’t see the separation spot, pour water to detect the leakage.

Sagging

When installing gutters, a slight slope is made to allow water to flow easily. With time, rain gutters can start sagging.

There are two main causes behind sagging:

• Loose fasteners

• Water weight/volume

To fix sagging gutters, you need to re-align and re-hang sagging sections.  Sometimes, even the entire rain gutter needs fixing.  Therefore, for sagging gutters, call a  professional for help.

Loose Fasteners

Other than sagging, loose fasteners can cause other problems in gutters.  As a result, you will get leaking gutters.  Fasteners are screws or nails that attach the gutters to the fascia boards.  As they loosen over time, you will start experiencing small leaks.  As a result, you will see water dripping from the rear of the rain gutters.  It may also reach the fascia.  Proximity to the fascia can make the problem worse.  If the fascia starts rotting, you may have to replace it as well as the gutters.

Check for cracks and holes.

As gutters age, it’s common for them to develop small cracks and holes where gutter sections screw together, due to rust and general wear at the weakest point in the gutters.  If this is the case, you’ll usually spot drips coming down from the joints.  While not a permanent fix, you can generally get another season or two out of the gutters (as long as the damage isn’t extensive) by applying a silicone or rubber gutter caulk or sealant.  A waterproof sealing product is easy to use: Simply squeeze into cracks and holes, then apply a further coating around the entire gutter joint.

There should be no more than a ¼-inch drop in the direction of the downspout.

If it looks like the gutter is loose, check the gutter fasteners. In most homes, these are either spikes or clips.

• If your gutters are fastened with spikes, and some spikes are loose or rusted, simply hammering the spike back in isn’t likely to solve the problem, as the spike will tend to work its way back out. Instead, replace the spike with a thicker and longer nail, or better yet, a long screw for maximum hold. Rain gutter spikes or screws should be at least seven inches long, and eight is even better.

• If clips or brackets hold your gutters, check for broken clips and loose or missing screws.  Replace broken clips by unscrewing the old clip, and then fastening a new one in place.  You’ll find rain gutter clips at any home improvement center in packages of 10 to 50, and they generally cost a little under one dollar per clip.  Installation is easy: Use a manual or power screwdriver to securely fasten the clips to the fascia along the edge of the roof. If the clips are okay but are missing screws, replace the screws with new ones that match the size of the clip’s screw holes.  The screws should be at least two inches long to hold the gutter clip firmly in place.

Give your gutters an apron.

Sometimes, rainwater makes its way down between the gutters and the walls, even though the gutters are secured in place.  You’ll notice water running down the walls during a rainstorm or puddling on the ground at the base of the walls.  This problem can be fixed with gutter aprons or drip edges.  These L-shaped lengths of metal flashing attach to the edge of the roof under the shingles with roofing nails.  They angle down over the inner edge of the gutter, eliminating any gaps between the gutter and the wall and channeling rainwater directly into the gutter.

When in doubt, call professionals.