Gutters don’t get the credit they deserve for protecting homes from water damage. When gutters fail, however, homeowners quickly realize how important they are. When your gutters fail, your roofing, soffit, and fascia can rot and mold; your doors, windows and siding can stain and deteriorate; your landscaping can get washed away, and your basement can flood. That’s why it’s best to keep failing gutters at bay. By watching for these common gutter problems, and making sure they get fixed ASAP, you can save yourself from some serious home-repair headaches.
Clogged Gutters
If there’s one most common gutter problem, it’s clogged gutters. When you fail to clear away your gutters regularly, clogs can form. Even if you clean your gutters regularly, an animal or bird can enter the gutter and build a nest or leave behind a mess and cause a clog. When clogged gutters remain unchecked, you’ll see a host of other gutter problems, which can include sagging gutters, ice dams, and overflowing gutters.
Separating Gutters
The most common types of gutters used in the United States are aluminum gutters, which are put together in sections along your home. Over time, these gutters can separate at the seams. When the separation is significant enough, water will pour through the seams and deposit along the foundation of your home, rather than traveling through the gutters and safely away from your home.
Sagging Gutters
Over time, the supports that secure your gutters to your home can begin to fail. Additionally, ice dams or debris trapped in your gutters can add too much weight for those supports to bear. When this happens, your gutters will sag. Not only will sagging gutters make your home look run down, but they will allow water to tip out of the gutters near your home’s foundation.
Ice Dams
In colder weather, ice dams can become a problem on the edge of your roof. Believe it or not, ice dams actually can be a gutter problem. Ice dams form when the snow on top of your roof melts from the heat in your attic. As the water from the snow runs down toward the edges of your roof and gutters, where the temperature is cooler, it refreezes and can form very large ice dams. Ice dams can damage your gutter system and your roof. Often, ice dams form because your gutters can’t whisk water away from your roofline quickly enough due to clogs, debris or other problems.
Improper Installation
Your gutters might have been improperly installed if they appear in good condition to the untrained eye. Improper pitch, improper size or downspouts that empty to close to your home are all common gutter installation problems that can prevent gutters from doing their job.
While all too common, these gutter problems shouldn’t be ignored. They can cause major problems — and major damage — in and around your home. That’s why these gutter problems would be evaluated by a professional. If you notice signs of these common gutter problems, call The Gutterman of TN to schedule an appointment today! We’ll evaluate your gutters and do what’s needed to have your gutters working to protect your home from water damage.