Are Your Gutters Leaking Between the House and Gutter?
If you’ve found yourself listening to the soothing pitter patter of rain on the roof, only to realise what you’re hearing is also the sound of water leaking between house and gutter, you’re not alone. Our gutters play a crucial role in diverting the water away from our homes, protecting them from damage and other issues. If this critical function of a gutter system is out of commission, you’re in a spot of bother. The longer you leave your gutters leaking between house and gutter, the more damage will be dealt and the more expensive the repairs will be. So, we’ve created a guide to help you understand why your gutters might be leaking, how to identify if there is a leak and how to fix it (hopefully, before needing to call a plumber for costly repairs).
What are the signs of gutters leaking between house and gutter?
Unsurprisingly, the number one sign of gutters leaking between the house and gutter is…water trickling down walls and other vertical surfaces.
Other signs are generally related to the water damage that occurs. These signs include…
- Peeling or cracked paint on the side of the house.
- Water pooling at the house foundations near the wall.
- Vertical water marks on the house wall.
- Mould or mildew gathering where the gutter meets the house.
- Visible damage to the gutter system such as rust or sagging.
These are the most common signs, but if you notice anything else that you think might be a symptom of leaking gutters, definitely get it checked out sooner rather than later.
What are potential causes of water leaking between gutter and house?
There are quite a few different issues that can cause leaking between house and gutter. As with any gutter-related problems, the sooner you can get them fixed, the better. If you can’t (or don’t want to) inspect your gutters yourself, we can take a look during the cleaning process to see if you’re at risk. Just let us know if you suspect any issues like the ones listed below and we can hopefully help you avoid costly future repairs, as long as the issue is dealt with quickly after it’s identified.
Gutter blockage
This is the most common reason, and generally the easiest to fix. Whether the blockage is made up of leaf litter, sticks, tennis balls, rubbish, nests or other debris, anything blocking the flow of water has the potential to cause a leak between the house and gutter. Just get in touch with the Grayson’s team and chat with one of our friendly technicians to get a quote and arrange a time for us to come out and clear your gutters. As mentioned, we can also do a once over of your gutters to see if any further issues might be the cause of the leak. But very often, gutter blockages are actually the cause of roof leaks.
Problem with the flashing or drip edge
The purpose of a drip edge or flashing is to help redirect water from the fascia and into the gutters. If there is a problem with this, water can be redirected incorrectly and it ends up missing the gutter altogether and leaks down between the gutter and the house.
Damaged roofing at the edge of the roof
If it looks like the home has sustained some damage at the edge of the roof where it meets the guttering system, there is definitely a chance that this can cause a leak. If part of the roof has broken away, has warped or is no longer in working condition, it can fail to direct water correctly or allow it to escape the gutter as it flows.
Damaged, misaligned or incorrectly installed gutters
Much like damage to the roof itself, damage to the gutters can also cause a leak to occur. We find that misaligned or incorrectly installed gutters aren’t often the problem (unless it was a DIY job), but you can’t be too careful. If your guttering system looks iffy and you’re noticing leaks, don’t assume it was installed correctly. Get an experienced gutter professional to take a look and get it repaired ASAP if there’s an issue.
3 steps to fix gutter leaks between the house and gutter
Here are 3 steps we suggest you take if you notice water leaking between house and gutter at your home…
1. Check to see if your gutters are blocked
If you can’t (or don’t want to) climb a ladder to get up there yourself, you can inspect using your very own gutter cleaning inspection cam, as outlined in this ‘how-to’ article and video.
2. Get your gutters cleaned
We recommend having your gutters cleaned regularly for many reasons. One of these reasons is because it can help you avoid gutter leaks (and the costly repairs that often come with them).
3. Contact a plumber
If your gutters are in a shocking state and there’s no chance of fixing the leaks with just a clean, we definitely suggest contacting a plumber as you’ll likely need repairs.
If you suspect a leak and want to try and catch it before you need to get a plumber involved, give us a call on 1300 GRAYSONS (1300 472 976) and we’ll see what we can do.
