Is your home’s gutter leaking? Leaking gutters can cause water damage, landscape erosion, mold growth, and pest infestations. If you observe gutters leaking from the seams or end caps, fixing your leaking gutters might be as simple as a bit of caulk.
Gutters are only as good as their design and installation. Improperly seamed and poorly-supported gutters function okay for a while but will never function at their maximum potential.
Poorly working gutters can’t withstand the force of rainwater for very long and will eventually fail under stress.
Clogs from leaves and other debris can also allow water to back up inside, increasing the weight of the gutter several times over.
Sectional gutter systems have the most leaking issues, but even seamless gutters require periodic maintenance for full functionality.
If you discover dripping gutters, they are leaking or overflowing, two problems that require repair. Experienced DIYers can often make initial gutter inspections to see if bringing a gutter professional on board is needed.
Depending on the severity of the problem, the best option is often replacing the gutters instead of repairing them. Old gutter systems may have numerous joints and layers of sealants applied to stop a gutter leak.
New seamless gutters eliminate much of the maintenance and repairs old gutters require. Like plumbing repairs, sometimes removing the entire guttering system and starting over is the least expensive option in the long run.
We will discuss how to tell if your gutters are leaking and what typically causes the leaks. You’ll also learn when to repair your gutters and when replacing them may be a better choice. If a repair is feasible, we’ll describe the most effective ways to fix leaking rain gutters and why they work.
How to Fix a Leaky Gutter
Several methods exist for fixing your leaky gutters, including regular cleaning, sealing, patching, replacing, or installing accessories like gutter guards.
In most cases, professional gutter repair specialists assess the condition before deciding whether a repair or gutter replacement is better. This helps the homeowner make a more informed decision for their situation.
If more than 50% of the gutter system is in disrepair or a severe problem cannot be corrected, replacing the gutters is usually the least expensive option over time. However, minor repairs can extend its lifespan if the gutter system is in reasonable condition.
Here are some other things worth considering.
Cleaning
Regular cleaning will help prevent clogs and other debris that can damage the gutter from the inside.
Clean the gutters with a soft washing system or garden hose to remove tree sap and other substances that catch debris.
Regular cleaning works best when the home is a single level and the gutters and downspouts are easily accessed.
Sealing
Sealing is done at the joints, end caps, and unions holding the system together. Professional gutter experts often use petroleum-based sealants and caulk as they offer more UV protection.
Seamless gutters will not require sealing except for joints and end caps. However, sectional gutters will require sealing at the joints, end caps, and unions, adding additional maintenance requirements.
Sealing works best when the overall condition is good, but damage or decay has caused a problem in a small area. Resealing will help prevent future leaks and is adequate for stopping leaks caused by small cracks and gaps.
Patching
The patching of gutters is usually required after a puncture or impact. Patching often involves using gutter repair kits, including fiberglass, tools, and repair patches. This solution is helpful in an emergency, but eventually, the gutter will leak again.
Patching gutters can be labor intensive because the damaged material must be removed, repaired, and replaced. Patching works best when the gutters have small leaks that cannot be sealed with sealants.
Replacing
Replacing the gutters is often the best option if the gutters have become more of a problem to deal with than you’d like. Constant cleaning and maintenance can also add to the physical wear, so in some cases, the solution is a new gutter system that avoids most of the short-term cleaning and repairs altogether.
Replacing the gutters shouldn’t be considered a last resort. Gutters tend to last for decades, so chances are good that new designs and technology have become available since their original installation.
The more innovative gutter designs work better, clog less, and are less hassle in the long term. Replacing works best in two situations: a) you plan to keep the home for a long time, or b) you are about to sell the home.
Buyers love new gutters on potential homes they’re considering because it shows the owner cares about the home and doesn’t cut corners.
Installing Gutter Guards
Gutter guards are a great way to make the cleaning process easier while protecting the integrity of the gutters. These guards still require occasional cleaning, as many function as a filter. Others deflect debris that could potentially damage or clog a gutter.
What Causes Gutter Leaking?
Gutters typically leak at the weakest point in the system or whenever they overflow. Both conditions point to an inefficient gutter system; its job is to control and direct the water runoff from the roof.
A leaking gutter seam, joint, or end cap can cause leaking gutters and ineffective installation.
Like most roof types, gutters must have a gradual slope that is neither too steep nor too shallow.
Gutters installed with too much slope will carry little runoff because they will overflow on the low end before filling up as they should. Gutters with too little slope, no slope, or a backward slope will not completely drain.
Gutters must have a pitch towards a downspout, drain, or scupper to allow the water to exit the gutter. The water will struggle to enter the downspout If the gutters are level or close to level.
Standing water is not only an unnecessary strain on the gutters but will also attract mosquitos, promote mold growth, and prematurely age the roof’s eave. That makes it all the more essential to remedy potential problems with your home’s gutter system.
Here’s a closer look at some of the causes of gutter leaks.
Clogs
Clogs occur when runoff cannot exit the gutter because leaves, twigs, needles, and roof debris block the downspout. If you have overflowing, sagging, or leaking gutters, it might indicate a clog.
There are a few ways to avoid gutter and downspout clogs. They include:
- Gutter Guards – Gutter guards are devices placed on or inside the gutter that filter or deflect the debris that causes clogs. Gutter guards are especially beneficial if you have a lot of leaves that fall from trees that hang over your roof.
- Frequent Cleaning – Frequent gutter cleaning isn’t high on most homeowners’ list of things to do. But it is very effective at avoiding gutter leaks if done regularly.
- Enlarged Gutters and Downspouts – A more appealing option for homeowners is to upgrade the standard 5” residential gutters to the larger 6” or 7” version. Along with 3” x 4” downspouts, these gutter types will allow small debris to pass through instead of becoming stuck.
Cracks
Cracks are rare in gutters along the length, but cracks and gaps in the joints and seams are common. No sealer will outlast the aluminum gutters are sometimes made from, so breaks in the seals must be periodically replaced.
The easiest way to repair cracks is simply with another layer of sealant. If the old sealant has detached, remove it before applying more. Professionals opt for petroleum-based sealers, as opposed to water-based, as they tend to be more durable over time.
Holes
Impacts from falling objects, wind, and corrosion can cause holes in the gutter. Most gutters are made from aluminum, so rust and corrosion are less likely. However, steel gutters will rust and corrode and must be adequately maintained, or holes will develop.
Depending on the type of gutter your home has, fiberglass, aluminum, or vinyl repair kits can temporarily patch holes in your gutters. However, any repair will still be weak in comparison to the rest of the gutter, so a replacement plan should soon follow the repair.
Rust/Corrosion
As with aluminum, vinyl gutters are also frequently installed on homes and are less likely to rust or corrode from contact with moisture. But other gutter materials, like steel, are sometimes preferred for additional strength. Without proper care, steel gutters will rust and disintegrate over time.
The only way to prevent rust and corrosion of steel gutters is to reapply the sealant. Any steel surface exposed to oxygen and water will rust, so complete, adequate coverage is required.
Loose/Improperly Sealed Joints
As already mentioned, gutters can become very heavy when full of water. Water weighs about 8 pounds per gallon, so a 5” wide gutter, 20’ long, will weigh nearly 200 pounds.
Loose or improperly sealed joints cannot withstand water’s force, so a leak often develops. If left ignored, the problem will worsen over time.
Loose or improperly sealed joints can be resealed if the gutters have not shifted, sagged, or detached. If any sections of your gutters have these issues, ask a seamless gutter professional for an estimate to replace the gutters.
Poor Installation
There are numerous ways that gutters are poorly installed. One is a failure to apply a slope to the gutter. Using gutter spikes is another inferior method of attaching gutters and can cause gutters to perform poorly, even when they are brand new.
Hidden hangers do a better job of securing the gutters. If the gutters use hidden hangers for support, they can be removed with a cordless drill, repositioned, and re-installed. However, you can’t do the same with gutter spikes as they’ll make an unnecessary hole in the gutter, the fascia, or both.
Weather Damage
Gutters take a beating in the best of circumstances. However, wind and flying debris can cause leaks simply by impact.
Limbs and other heavy debris commonly fall during severe weather, causing impact damage to the gutters when they land. You can help prevent damage by trimming any potentially destructive tree limbs or branches.
Reverse curve gutter guards can also be effective, as they add both weight and impact resistance to the gutter.
These causes of leaking gutters are often avoidable by performing maintenance and repairs as needed. Be watchful for other signs that your gutters may have problems, such as:
- Overflows
- Birds constantly perched on the gutters
- Plant life growing in the gutters
- Sagging
- Landscape erosion
- Flooding
These things indicate that your gutters are leaking, holding water, or both.
What Are the Consequences of Leaking Gutters?
Leaking gutters allow water to flow uncontrolled, which often causes water damage to wood, mold growth, foundation issues, and pest infestation.
Dripping gutters indicate that the gutters can no longer control the flow of runoff. As a result, the runoff will spill uncontrolled, forming ruts in the ground. Falling water, especially from the height of a gutter, can easily damage even compacted soil.
Softscapes and hardscapes can be impacted by erosion, as can plant life, walking stones, and other elements of landscaping.
Here’s a partial list of the eventual consequences if your gutter leaks are left unaddressed:
Water Damage
When water runoff is not directed elsewhere, it will always follow the path of least resistance. Often, the water will curl under the roof and pool. Roof sheathing is not designed to withstand water, so the result is usually a sag in the roof. This can result in water making its way into your home.
Mold Growth
Usually, mold growth due to leaking gutters occurs in cooler, shaded parts of the roof. Gutters that allow water to spill haphazardly can allow puddles to form that never drain away.
Moist locations are the perfect spot for mold and mildew to grow because neither can exist without water.
Foundation Issues
Foundation footings are taken very seriously by building professionals. Foundations rest on concrete footings, which rest on undisturbed soil.
Leaky gutters allow runoff to find a path below and around the footings, eroding the lateral support.
Eventually, the soil will wash away thoroughly, leaving the footings vulnerable to cracks. Foundation cracks tend to travel upward, leading to expensive repairs of the exterior walls, masonry facade, and footings.
Landscape Erosion
Creating a beautiful landscape is neither inexpensive nor easy to install. Dripping gutters, caused by leaking gutter seams and joints, can ruin a landscape design quickly in a heavy rain event.
Flowers, shrubbery, and other small plant life often have shallow roots, which are washed away when gutter leaks are left to worsen. PVC pipes and other accessories are often added to downspouts to redirect the runoff.
These are ineffective when frequent or severe gutter leaks allow the runoff to find its own path, however destructive it might be.
Pest Infestation
Pests, such as bees, hornets, mosquitos, and other wood-damaging insects, are attracted to standing water. Left unaddressed, these insects (including termites) can do significant damage. Unfortunately, the damage will continue until the water source is eliminated.
Leak Prevention is the Key to Fixing Leaking Rain Gutters
Rain gutters do a tough job, so occasional leaks are common. The key to preventing leaking gutters is to keep the gutters in good condition and reduce or eliminate the causes. Regular cleaning, maintenance, and repairs are one way to keep gutter issues to a minimum.
The preferred way is to hire a professional gutter expert to inspect the entire system before suggesting specific repairs. That way, you can make the best choices for your situation and not waste your money on an inferior solution. It will also save you money in the long run.
The best gutter companies offer a free inspection of your gutters and provide an honest quote for the gutter services that offer you the most value. If you have a question about your home’s gutters, please don’t hesitate to ask or share your feedback with us.
