How to Tell if You Need New Gutters

20 Mar 2019 Samantha Munoz

Your home’s gutters play an important part in keeping it in good repair. Gutters divert water away from your exterior walls and foundation, keeping them safe from water damage. If your gutters are damaged and leaking water where it shouldn’t be, you could end up having to deal with major rot or mold problems down the line. To help you avoid this fate, here are a few signs to look for to help you tell if it’s time to replace your gutters.

• Cracks or Splits – While little cracks in your gutters might not seem like a big deal, leaving them unaddressed can have serious consequences. Once they appear, the cracks will only get bigger over time, and the water leakage can cause real damage to the shingles above your gutters, the fascia boards below, and even the foundation of your home.
• Peeling Paint – If you notice the paint on your gutters starting to peel, it’s likely that something is wrong with them. Paint for gutters is designed to hold up to a lot of weathering, so if you see it starting to peel or notice orange rust spots forming, you should be concerned.
• Water or Mildew at the Foundation – Another sign that your gutters are failing is pools of water or the presence of mildew around your home’s foundation. Gutters are designed to direct water away from the foundation, so the fact that it’s lingering in that area is a sign that something isn’t right. Sometimes this issue can be fixed with simple cleaning and unclogging, while other instances might require repair or replacement.