Welcome to Family Roofing

CALL OR EMAIL US TODAY FOR YOUR FREE ESTIMATE – 202-276-5004   FAMILY.ROOFING@YAHOO.COM

 

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.

 

Why are your Rain Gutters Leaking?

Leaking gutters are ticking bombs.  The small drips look harmless but may cause great havoc.  It can ruin your siding or fascia.  It can also cause flooding or damage the foundation of your house.  Therefore, it is never a good idea to ignore leaking gutters.  Don’t worry, not every leakage is a big problem. There are a few problems in your rain gutters that you can fix yourself.

Why are your Rain Gutters Leaking?

There can be many reasons behind the leakage.  When it comes to finding the cause behind leaking gutters, call a professional.

The most common reasons are:

• Clogs

• Damages

• Leaking Joints

• Sagging

• Loose fasteners

Common Reason Behind Leaking Gutters & How to Fix Them?

Clog

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.  Fortunately, it is easy to detect and fix.

Clog in Rain Gutters

The clog in rain gutters is very easy to remove. The simplest and fastest method is to use your hands to get the debris out.

Clog in Downspouts

On the other hand, if the clog is in the downspout, disconnect it from the rain gutter.  Then, you can clean it.

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.  It is easy to fix the leaking gutters with damages.  Simply apply a waterproof sealant over cracks and holes. You can also caulk the damaged spots.  However, if the cracks are bigger, you will have to replace the damaged section of the rain gutters.

Poor Installation

If your gutters were not installed properly, they may be more prone to damage.  This can include issues such as improper slope, incorrect spacing between hangers, and poor-quality materials.  Proper installation is essential for the long-term performance and durability of your gutters.  To ensure that your gutters are installed correctly, it’s important to choose a reputable company.  Do your research and get multiple quotes before making a decision.  It’s also a good idea to ask for references and check online reviews to get a sense of the company’s reputation.

Lack of Maintenance

Gutter maintenance is essential for keeping your gutters in good condition.  This includes tasks such as cleaning out debris, inspecting for damage, and making repairs as needed.  Neglecting these tasks can lead to gutter damage over time.  To prevent gutter damage due to lack of maintenance, it’s important to make gutter cleaning and inspection a regular part of your home maintenance routine.  If you’re not comfortable doing this task yourself, consider hiring a professional gutter cleaning service.  They can ensure that your gutters are cleaned thoroughly and that any damage is identified and repaired promptly.

Water Overflow

If your gutters are not functioning properly, water can overflow and cause damage to your home.  This can include water damage to your roof, walls, and foundation, as well as erosion in your landscaping. To prevent water overflow, it’s important to keep your gutters clean and in good repair. If you notice that your gutters are overflowing during heavy rain, it may be a sign that they are clogged.

During installation, gutters are lined up and placed at specific angles.  Their position is important because it helps direct the flow of water down and away from your home.  If your gutters aren’t aligned the right way, it can lead to overflow.  If you’ve checked for debris and you have the correctly sized gutters in the correct number, and you’re still dealing with overflowing gutters, call a professional in your area to investigate the problem.

If gutters don’t line your roof on all sides that are parallel to the ground, they may overflow.  This is also the case with downspouts, the vertical pipes that send the water out of your gutters and into the ground away from your home.  Too few downspouts can also lead to overflow because there aren’t enough of them to pick up the slack.

Trees

Trees can be a major cause of gutter damage. Falling branches and leaves can clog your gutters, while tree roots can cause damage to the gutter system. It’s important to always keep your trees trimmed and away from your gutters to prevent this kind of damage from happening.

Animals

Birds, squirrels, rats and other animals can also cause damage to your gutters.  Birds may build nests in your gutters, causing pines, needles and other debris to clog your gutters.  Rats and squirrels may chew on the gutter material or damage the hangers and brackets.  Luckily, there are several things you can do to prevent animals from damaging your gutters.  You can install gutter guards or spike strips over the top of your gutters so you prevent any animals from entering.  Believe it or not, some people even have success using decoys, such as owl decoys, to deter birds from their gutters.

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.

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 professionals for help.

Loose Fasteners

Other than sagging, loose fasteners can cause other problems in gutters. And, 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.  Depending on how far the damage has reached, you can fix the problem. In the best cases, you can tighten the fasteners to stop drips. Then, apply caulking (or sealant).

In other cases, you will have to replace the fasteners.  And, in the worst cases, the fascia and the gutters will need fixing.

There are many reasons that can cause leaks and drips.  If you are lucky, and you catch them at the right time, you may be able to fix them yourself.  When in doubt, call professionals.