When Is it Time to Replace Your Gutters?

While seamless gutters are typically designed to last homeowners for many years, there are always telltale signs that it’s necessary to replace your gutter. You don’t have to be a home repair professional to know when it’s time to switch out your current gutter system. Take a look at some of the indications that mean you can no longer ignore replacing your home’s gutter:

Leakage

Significant leakage is the most obvious sign that it’s time to part ways with your eavestroughs. Subtle evidence of leaking, such as minor cracks along the gutter frame or minimal water marks accumulating around the seamless gutters, can usually be solved with some quick repair work. However, if water is continuously finding its way into your basement, or extensive mold is starting to grow on the interior walls next to your eavestrough system, replacement is entirely necessary. In addition, noticing that standing water continues to be a problem within your gutter is another factor in considering purchasing a new gutter.

Damage

Whether it’s a recent storm that hit the neighborhood or enduring years of all kinds of weather conditions, sometimes environmental factors are to blame for noticeable areas of damage along your gutter system. After any storm, make sure to walk around your house to give it a thorough inspection. This means keeping an eye out for any significant bending or dents, sagging, large holes or cracks, or any other signs of inefficient water distribution. Rust accumulating on the seamless eavestroughs is another sign to look out for, especially when it’s apparent around the sides of the house. This typically signals that water is continuously overflowing, leaving rust stains and weakening the gutter material.

Drainage

If your seamless gutters can’t effectively drain water, it’s definitely time to move on. There are two primary ways you can tell if your eavestroughs aren’t draining properly. The first is noticing puddles forming around the foundation of your home after a rainy day. This can quickly lead to mold growth, as well as flooding in the basement. The second is listening to your gutters during a rain storm. If you keep hearing water smacking onto the ground, that means the water isn’t being properly channeled through the eavestrough system, which in turn can lead to standing water below.