WHY YOUR ROOF GUTTERS ARE LEAKING – FAMILY ROOFING

Posted on by David Reid

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WHY YOUR ROOF GUTTERS ARE LEAKING

Gutters keep homes and yards in good shape by collecting roof water run ff and moving it away from the foundation.  Gutters that leak aren’t doing their job properly.  It’s simple to trace the causes behind leaking gutters.

Most gutters drip a little bit, but it’s time to fix the leak when the drip turns into a stream.  Below are the top reasons why gutters leak.

Gutter Joints Are Leaking

Gutter seams can leak water, especially if the seams have not been sealed.  Downspout elbows or the downspout round drops can leak as well.  Call a professional to inspect your gutters and provide a professional estimate.

Tighten up loose gutters

Over time, rain gutters often start to pull away from the roof, allowing water to drip over the gutter sides or between the gutters and the walls.  Usually, this is due to gutter fasteners rusting or loosening after years of temperature extremes and exposure to water.  Sometimes, the sag is drastic enough to spot just by looking.

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.

Have a gutter apron installed

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.

Gutter End Caps Are Leaking

End caps close the ends of the gutters to prevent water from leaking.  Loose end caps will leak water.  The end caps may have been installed without sealant. Installing a new end cap with sealant and crimping down the metal will fix the leak.

Before You Begin

Before attempting any fixes, check out the gutters to make sure of the following:

  • Gutters have no standing water: Gutters with built-up, standing water will leak through small holes or seams or they may leak over the top edge of the gutter. Access the gutters on a ladder and remove the clogs.

  • Gutters are properly sloped: Optimal gutter slope, or pitch, for most areas is 1/4 inch per 10 feet.  Have the gutter slope corrected if the slope is less than this.

  • Gutters are not sagging: Gutters that droop in front will leak.  Hold a bubble level on top of the gutter in various places, from front to back.  Add, move, or adjust the structural hangers to bring the gutters back to level.

  • Gutters are properly installed: Check that seamed gutters and downspouts run in the correct direction.  Gutters should be overlapped so that the top overlap faces the downspout.  Downspouts should be fitted so that a male joint is always above a female joint.

Keep your gutters in good shape for the longest life

Once you’ve eliminated any leaks, keep your gutters in good shape with the following tips.

  • Clean rain gutters each spring and fall, removing fallen leaves and grunge.

  • Consider installing  quality leaf guards or mesh over the gutters if your home is surrounded by a lot of deciduous trees.

  • Sweep heavy loads of fallen leaves off your home’s roof, as these are likely to make their way into the gutters.

  • Inspect rain gutters annually for cracks, holes, loose or missing screws, and other damage.  It’s better to fix problems right away, rather than wait until you find your gutters leaking.

  • Check downspouts whenever you clean your rain gutters.  Run water into the gutter at the top of the downspout and watch the drainage at the bottom.  If water backs up out of the downspout, instead of easily draining, remove the downspout’s base—this will generally slip off—and use a broom handle or long stick to dislodge leaves and other debris from inside the downspout.  You might need to run a strong blast of water from your garden hose to dislodge stubborn blockages.