What Damage Sagging Gutters Can Do To Your Home

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When you walk around your house, do you notice your gutters dipping in certain areas or falling forwards? If this is the case, you may be dealing with sagging gutters. Sagging gutters can ruin your home’s aesthetic and lead to water damage if not dealt with properly. When they start to sag, any excess water that is obstructed will overflow down the side of your home and onto the siding. This can cause water to seep into your home, either through the walls, basement, or even your foundation.  

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Causes of Sagging Gutters 

Making sure you know the cause of the problem as to why your gutters are sagging is important to protecting your home from water damage. Here are some common reasons that gutters begin to sag and how you can prevent it in the future. 

Too Small 

Gutters need to be adequately sized to be able to withstand the rainfall or snowmelt that an area receives. In Athens, year-round rain is common, and your gutters should be wide enough to handle a sudden downpour. Usually, gutters are 5 or 6 inches wide, with some narrower ones being only 4 inches wide. Narrow downspouts can also cause water to back up, which leads to sagging. Since your gutters channel water away from your home, any overflowing water spells out trouble. 

Clogs or Backups 

Just like a sink or a bathtub, gutters can also experience clogs due to tree debris and pests. This leads to water being stuck in certain areas and resulting in sagging and corrosion. When an excess of debris forms, it also creates the perfect habitat for pests that can cause damage to your gutters. Clogging is also a serious problem sign for gutters as water can easily overflow onto your home. It’s important to clean your gutters of debris at least twice a year, or more often if you live near trees, and install gutter guards to prevent debris from getting in. 

Poor Installation 

When gutters are installed on your home, they must be properly fastened into place to avoid sagging. If the screws holding them in place are far enough into the fascia, your gutters may start to sag. This can also become a problem if a clog is involved, and the weight of water becomes too much to bear. This may require you to hire a professional roof repair service to replace the screws or add additional support.  

Warping Materials 

Like most building materials, exposure to the constant elements can cause deterioration over time. This can be anything from corrosion, rust, warping, cracks, and sagging. Even extreme summer temperatures can cause rain gutter materials to expand and contract in the winter. If on the off chance your Columbus gutters experience ice, ice dams can form and lead to sagging and water damage.  

Frequently Asked Questions – Sagging Gutters

Can I Repair Bent Gutters?

If your gutters are sagging in certain areas and the damage isn’t too far progressed, it is possible to repair bent gutters. We do recommend hiring a professional as this is not a DIY task. Improperly repaired gutters can lead to even more damage and higher repair costs in the future. Usually, dents or small bends can be easily repaired, but if they’re severely deformed or crushed, they must be replaced entirely to ensure effectiveness. This also gives you a chance to clear your gutters of any debris as well as potentially upgrade to a new system. 

How Do I Prevent Gutters From Sagging?

First and foremost, your gutters should always be clean and free of any tree debris such as leaves, pine needles, and small branches. If a bad storm comes through, water should be able to effectively drain toward the downspout and away from your home. Your gutters should also be correctly installed without any bad sloping, cracks, or loose fasteners. It’s imperative to check on your gutter’s slope to ensure that it is flowing to the downspouts by doing a hose test. Finally, we recommend that if any damage is noticed within your gutter, that it is repaired or replaced promptly so that problems don’t worsen. 

Let The Team at AquaGuard Repair Your Sagging Gutters 

If the gutters around your home are loose or sagging, you may need repairs or replacement. At AquaGuard we specialize in gutter repair services to ensure your home avoids water damage in the future. With our proven gutter solutions, we protect your home from overflowing water that can destroy your home’s siding, foundation, basement, and crawl space. During your inspection, one of our experts will do a full walk around your home to check for any leaks or damage and then provide you with a written, no-obligation estimate.  Don’t hesitate to get your gutters fixed and call the professionals at AquaGuard today!