4 Signs That Your Home’s Gutters Need to Be Replaced
Your home’s gutters play a major role in keeping your foundation and other parts of your home’s exterior dry and protected from water damage, so it’s important to make sure that your gutters are still in good shape and able to do their job. If you notice any of these four troubling signs with your gutters, you should consider having your gutter system replaced by professionals.
- Cracks or Holes Along the Gutter Line
One of the most obvious signs of a gutter problem is the appearance of cracks or holes along the gutter line. These cracks or holes may have formed because of old age, extremely harsh weather conditions, or an inferior gutter material. Rust formation can also cause breakages along the gutter line. If the breakages are small enough, you might be able to repair them with sealant to save your gutters, but you should definitely have your gutters replaced if the cracks or holes are larger.
- Exterior Home Damage
Damage to the outside of your home could occur for a variety of reasons, but your gutters may be to blame if the damage is seen directly below where your gutter line runs. Gutters that aren’t able to hold and direct water properly often leak water down the sides of homes, and this moisture can damage exterior paint and cause it to peel. Over time, this water leakage from your gutters may also rot sections of the exterior. The moisture could even rot away door jambs, windowsills, and other exterior wooden elements, and this could result in water leaking into your home.
- Old Gutters
Even if your old gutters seem to be working fine, you should still consider replacing them if they are beyond their typical lifespan. If your gutters are made of vinyl, you may need to get new ones installed after 10 to 15 years, but you may be able to go as long as 25 years before aluminum gutters should be replaced. Copper gutters are known to last 50 years or more and may be an excellent investment for your home.
- Continuous Gutter Separation
A gutter isn’t just one long unit; several smaller units need to be fitted together to create a gutter system. If any of these units are separated, water could leak through the gaps and cause major problems for your home. Separated gutter parts can usually be put back together, but a gutter replacement is often needed for gutters that continue to separate.
Your gutters may be separating from their attachment points along the roof’s edge, which can also cause water to leak down the side of your home. If this continues to happen even after you’ve reattached your gutters to your roof, professionals who specialize in gutters and roofing may need to be called to replace your gutters.
If you’re like many homeowners, you probably don’t think about your gutters too often, but you shouldn’t neglect your gutter system. By having gutters that are beyond repair replaced, you can prevent many problems that could affect other parts of your home.