These Signs Mean You Need to Replace Your Gutters

Your gutters do a lot of work. They catch and direct water and direct it away from your home so it doesn’t suffer water damage. Over time, your gutters, just like every other part of your house, can suffer from wear and tear, becoming damaged to the point that they need to be replaced. As such, it’s important to look out for signs that point to the need to replace your gutters.

Sagging or Pulling Away from the House

Gutters should be tight against a house. They shouldn’t sag or pull away. If you notice your gutters sagging or pulling away from your house, you’ll need to replace them. It could be that your gutter system is inadequate for the volume of water that needs to be directed away from your home, or that it’s unable to drain properly due to blockage. That is part of why regular gutter maintenance is so important. Fortunately, this is one sign that is easily spotted, which means you should be able to get it addressed before further damage is done.

Cracks or Splits

It can be tempting to dismiss small cracks in your gutters as being nothing of much consequence. That can be a mistake, however. Cracks in gutters don’t just fix themselves. In fact, all the water that ends up in the gutters can cause those small cracks to grow sooner rather than later. If you notice cracks or splits, you may be able to repair them if they are small. If your repairs are unsuccessful, or if they have grown too large, you’ll probably just have to replace the gutter altogether.

Signs of Water Trouble

A gutter system is meant to protect your house from water damage. If you notice signs of water trouble, that can be a good indicator that your gutter system is unable to do its job for some reason. You may be able to fix the problem, depending on what it is. Otherwise, you’ll just have to replace the gutters. Watch out for peeling paint on or around your gutters, flecks of orange that indicate the onset of rust, water damage or water marks beneath the gutters, and pools of water or signs of mildew around the foundation of your home.

When there’s a part of your house that you rely on to protect other parts of your house, it’s always a good idea to keep tabs on its condition. Watch out for signs that indicate that your gutters need to be replaced. That should be easy enough if you’re performing routine maintenance on them. If you’re not sure, have Behind The Scenes Home Inspections do a home inspection for you. We can help you get the answers you need.

Gutters are only a fraction of what we inspect as a part of our home inspection services. Click here to see what other parts of your home are inspected when you get a home inspection from Behind The Scenes Home Inspections.