Gutter Problems And How You Can Repair Them Yourself
Posted on: 4 August 2016
Gutters help to keep water that falls from your roof away from your foundation as well as off of your head when you walk in your house. That water can also seep behind your soffit and fascia, causing mold to eventually grow, which can turn into a huge problem. Gutters are an important part of your home and need to be taken care of and maintained properly. See below for a handful of common gutter problems as well as solutions so you can repair them all.
Gutters Overflowing
If your gutters are overflowing with water, it could mean that you have a clog somewhere (or in multiple places). You can clean out your gutters yourself with just a ladder, bucket and a garden hose. If you have high gutters and aren't comfortable on a ladder, you may want to call in a professional. Otherwise, this is a job you can definitely do. Place the ladder high so you can reach and see into the gutters. Inspect the gutters for clogs and debris and remove as much as you can using your gloved hand. You can place the debris into the bucket, or throw it to the ground below (and dispose of it all later). Use the garden hose to spray out any leftover debris. Then use the hose to spray out the downspouts. Watch for the water to come out of the downspout.
Broken Fasteners
If you have broken fasteners, you'll probably see that your gutters are sagging in areas or even falling off of the house. If this is the case, you can purchase new fasteners or gutter hangers at your local hardware store to put them back into place. If you leave your gutters to sag, they can pull away further, eventually falling completely off. Gutter hangers/fasteners are not too expensive and are simple to put back into place.
Leaky Gutters
If your gutters are leaking in areas not near a seam, you could have holes in your gutters. If your gutters are still in good condition, you can seal the hold using a gutter sealant or caulking (both can be found at your local hardware store). For larger holes, use a piece of flashing to make a patch. If your gutters are not in good condition, as in they are leaking everywhere with multiple holes, you may want to think about having new gutters installed.
Water Collecting Near The Foundation
If your downspouts are draining too close to the foundation, this is a pretty quick fix. You can invest in downspout extenders to help extend the drainage out further from your home. Or you can take it a step further and purchase drain pipe that you can attach to your downspout and bury in your yard to drain out further (without being seen). This is a much bigger job, but worth it to keep water away from your home.
Repairing your gutter issues will help prevent bigger problems later down the road. Call a gutter repair specialist for help if you aren't able to make these repairs yourself.
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