Unless you live in a particularly privileged part of the United States, your home is going to have to deal with a lot of precipitation. The roof cannot handle the job alone, though; your gutter system or eavestroughs need to be in top shape to prevent a whole slew of flooding, molding, and erosion problems that a rainstorm could drop into your lap.
Unfortunately, many homeowners are living with damaged gutters in need of cleaning or repair without even realizing it. If you are concerned about mold, insects, erosion, or rotting wood (and you should be!), then a simple eye test during your next storm will be all you need to help assess the state of your gutters.
Alongside incredible bundle plan savings and high-quality service, the Window Genie gutter cleaning team would like to equip readers with the knowledge they need to identify whether their gutters and overflowing or leaking; in other words, this article will help you assess whether your gutters are in need of repair or maintenance, and give you the tools to get the job done!
Overflowing – What it is, and what it means
Overflowing is a maintenance problem. If you notice that your gutters are overflowing, it means that one or more drains are clogged, and you need to invest in a gutter cleaning.
One sign of an overflow in contrast to a leak is when the water is visibly flowing over the gutter, as opposed to dribbling out from the bottom of it. Like a bathtub left running too long, your gutter is filled with water that cannot drain out because the downpipe is plugged. The water seeks out the lowest point of the gutter system and spills over. Often the lowest point is found at the corner of your gutter network, and so seeking out overflowing corners is a good practice when scanning for maintenance issues.
Another sign of an overflow is when the water stops immediately after the storm ceases. Your gutters will only overflow when more water drops are falling into them; otherwise they will stay level. If water continues to drip from the gutter 15-30 minutes after the storm has ceased, then you are probably dealing with a leak. This is a repair issue, not a maintenance one.
How to spot a leak in your gutter system
Leaks often give themselves away in the form of visible algae or moss growth, especially around corners. Moist spots beneath seams shortly after a storm has occurred are excellent indications of a leak as well. Another thing to look out for is a crater that has been worn into nearby soil or cement walkways; this occurs over a long period of time as the leak consistently “waters” the same area.
If you notice any of these signs of leakage or overflow, contact Window Genie for a gutter cleaning and repair service as soon as possible. The longer you wait, the more damage will accumulate, potentially costing you thousands in home repair fees. Visit http://www.windowgenie.com and act now!
