Rain gutters are a key factor in keeping water away from the foundation, windows, and roof. But in order to work properly they require regular cleaning and maintenance. It’s recommended that you check your gutters at the very least once a year. Here are a few signs which you should look for while doing a checkup that indicate your gutters may need some work.

• Cracks or splits of any kind on your gutter. Even the smallest ones will become troublesome sooner than you expect. The water may damage the fascia boards behind the gutters, the shingles above the gutter and the foundation below.
• Paint peeling on or around your gutters and/or flecks of orange. Unless your gutters are extremely old that is an indicator that water is continuously present.
• Pools of water or signs of mildew around your home’s foundation. That’s especially important. Contact us immediately as any pools of water or mildew near the foundation, can indicate that the gutters are not working as intended. This standing water can be the result of a number of things: your gutter may have overflowed because is it clogged, your downspout may be installed in the wrong place, or water may flow back toward your home due to the grade of your property. Installing a downspout extension can mitigate this issue.
• Sagging rain gutters with reverse slope that prevents water from flowing normally. If your gutters sag and no longer have their original slope, they cannot properly direct water to your downspouts. Deformed gutters have to be replaced since they cannot bear their loads properly.
• Water damage or water marks directly beneath the gutters. Water damage or marks underneath the gutter indicate that leaking or overflowing water is escaping the gutter.
• Gutters sag or have begun to pull away from the house. This can indicate that the gutters are full of water and pulling away from the house due to the weight. A full gutter means that the gutter system may not be appropriate for the home, its draining improperly or debris is causing blockage. Sagging gutters could require significant cost or hassle to repair.
• Leaky eavestrough corners and joints. Gutter corners and joints often leak, resulting in standing water near the foundation. When this happens, your gutters are not doing their job. In many cases, you simply need to apply sealant to prevent leaks. If that is not enough, you will need to replace your gutters.
• Rotted fascia. Over time, clogged gutters allow water to get up into the fascia, which eventually rots and compromises your gutters.

As you can clearly see there are numerous signs that indicate the gutters are not working properly. In case you’re still not sure about your gutters contact us and we will be more than glad to help you make sure your house is safe from rain.