It’s easy to ignore a leaking gutter. It only happens when the rain is pouring outside and, in many cases, it won’t be somewhere you can see or hear it. But eventually, it does make you wonder – why is it leaking?
It’s important to identify the root cause of leaking gutters and get them fixed. Failure to do so will let water get on your walls and around the bottom of your building, which could lead to water ingress, damp and even damage to your foundations.
In this post, we’ll discuss a few reasons why your gutters could be leaking – and how to put it right.
Cracks
It will come as no surprise that cracks in the length of your guttering will allow water through. These cracks can be caused by impact from falling branches or ladders. Alternatively, they can occur over time when gutters have too much pressure on them. That could be from compacted wet leaves or insufficient support from brackets that are spaced too far apart.
Joints
Joints between two parts of guttering are another area where water can escape your gutters. That could be between two straight lengths, around a bend or even where the gutters join the downpipe.
Leaking joints can often be fixed by cleaning. Small bits of dirt and debris could create an opening in the joint, which would allow water through. Other than that, the seal might have broken down over time – in which case, your gutters will need to have specialist gutter sealant applied by a professional.
Overflowing
While it’s not a leak per se, overflowing gutters are another way for water to escape. It can be caused by leaves, which block gutters and downpipes, so water overflows rather than flowing through them.
Overflowing gutters can also be caused by gutters with the wrong slope. Gutters that are too steep will see water flow too fast into the downpipe and overflow there, while those that aren’t steep enough will simply fill up and overflow when rain runs into them.
Finally, the issue could be down to gutters that aren’t big enough for your property. Gutters come in a range of sizes, and it’s important to choose a size that’s suitable for your roof and the amount of rainwater that will be running off it.
Loose gutters
To do their job properly, gutters need to be fixed close to your roof where water runs off. If they become loose and pull away from the roof, that water will bypass your gutters. In most cases, this is because of too much pressure on the gutters, which – as above – can be caused by debris, like leaves, or inadequate support from the brackets.
Repairing your gutters
The way to put your gutters right depends on what exactly is wrong with them. Cracked guttering will need to be replaced, for example, while poorly sloped gutters can be realigned. It’s also important to tackle any underlying issues too. There’s no point repairing loose gutters if you’re going to let leaves build up next autumn, increasing the likelihood of the problem recurring.
By inspecting your gutters on site, a professional roofer can identify the root cause of your problems and recommend the best course of action. That includes the initial repair job as well as any gutter clearance services that are required going forward.
With over 35 years’ experience in roofing, the team at DPR in Huddersfield provides guttering services you can rely on – from a rigorous inspection to clearance, repair and renewals. Contact us today on 01484 866 772 or email [email protected] to get the ball rolling.