Why Leaking Gutters Can Lead To More Serious Home Damage

Gutters are installed on a home's roof to channel rainwater away from the structure. Once gutters start leaking, water can accumulate around the home, threatening the roof, siding, foundation, landscaping, and interior. It's important to become familiar with the many ways that faulty gutters can lead to costly repairs.

Water Can Damage The Foundation

Overflowing, leaking, or other faulty gutters can cause an unacceptable amount of water to collect around the foundation of one's home. Water gathering around the foundation of one's home can cause water to seep through cracks and other openings. Moisture around the foundation of your home can also cause damp and wet basements and more issues that may not be possible to fix.

Properly installed gutters and downspouts can cause water to properly drain away from the house. Downspouts play an important role in redirecting water displaced by the gutter away from the house a sufficient distance so as to not accumulate near the structure of one's house. Homeowners must be especially wary of areas around their house where the soil has eroded away due to leaking gutters since these areas can hold larger amounts of water.

Roof Damage Can Occur

A roof's fascia, shingles, flashing, and other materials can be damaged by faulty gutters that allow water to back up along the roof's edge. Water that becomes trapped between the roof and the edge of the gutter can also cause water damage inside the home, hidden until water marks appear on the walls.

Homeowners can avoid these issues by making sure that the home's gutters do not hold water along the roof's edge. Check and make sure that the home's gutters are not the reason why water is backing up along the roof's edge and causing damage to it. It is much easier to solve these issues than it is to prevent water from getting on the roof.

Exterior Materials Are At Risk

Siding, facia, soffits and more can all be damaged by water sitting on them for even short periods of time. Materials like wood are prone to rot, staining and other weather related damage when exposed to moisture that sits next to it for long periods of time. Water sitting on or next to wood areas can also cause paint and other finishes to come off of things like nearby trim or accents.

If your gutters leak, water can collect around windows and doors. This can cause the same kinds of issues to these parts of your home as the siding, facia, soffits and more. In addition to protecting your home from the effects of water by keeping it out and away from your home in the first place, it's important to remember that gutter maintenance can also help you protect your home's "coat of arms".

Interior Damage Can Happen

If the outside of one's home is not properly protected from the elements, then water can and often will get inside. Water that gets inside the home from the roof, siding or foundation of the home can leave behind undesirable watermarks or cause damage to the drywall and insulation of the affected area or areas. In some instances, water can be found inside an enclosed space after days, which can cause issues with flooring and other things.

Homeowners are able to avoid this by checking for odd watermarks, smells, paint issues, odd interior occurrences, etc after severe weather takes place. Water sensors also help detect unexpected water accumulation within a space. They serve to provide an extra level of protection for those who might be unaware of the ways water can get into the house. FloLogic happens to be a product that offers an excellent option of coverage for those seeking a water monitoring system. This alarm detects the presence of water and alerts the owner to the fact that there may be a problem.

Landscaping Problems Can Increase

Leaking from gutters may cause landscaping issues because the water running off them can erode the soil. This can cause exposed roots of the plants and muddy areas around the foundation. If left untreated, this can cause additional concerns such as excessively moist ground near the foundation.

Those wishing to avoid landscaping issues should ensure that the area is clear beneath the gutters. The down spouts must carry the water away from the house so that it does not accumulate near the foundation. If erosion has already occurred, it should be repaired as soon as possible. Landscaping should be done in a way that slopes downward so that the water will run off the structure, while also maintaining the gutters.

Regular Maintenance Reduces Risk

Homeowners should perform occasional maintenance on their gutters to make sure that the gutters will be prepared for occasions when heavy precipitation falls. Leaves, sticks, dirt, and other objects can build up in gutters and cause water to come out of them. Fasteners can also come loose, as well as other objects, which can cause water to escape the gutters. It is always best to avoid these problems.

Besides helping to prevent water from coming out of the gutters, maintenance can assist in finding other issues that may not seem obvious at first. For example, as mentioned above, homeowners should check the roof, fascia, downspouts, and the ground beneath the foundation for water damage. It is much easier to secure a loose part of a gutter rather than it is to clean up the mess that would have occurred had the water escaped the gutter. A fully functioning gutter system is absolutely crucial to a home.

Conclusion

It's important for homeowners to understand that the issues associated with faulty gutters go well beyond random amounts of water spilling out of them. Wet ground near the foundation, watermarks in the interior, roofing issues, and other damaging conditions can arise if leaking gutters aren't repaired in a timely manner. Performing regular maintenance and making sure that the downspouts have the correct water flow will allow homeowners to keep their home's water at bay.