A home’s gutter system is a quintessential component that protects the house from drainage issues. Think of all the rain, snow, hail, and ice storms we get here in Central Ohio; our summers can dump frequent torrential rain and our winters can bring severe winter storms. All this precipitation means your home needs a quality gutter system to collect and carry stormwater and meltwater from the roof and divert it away from the house to protect against leaks and other drainage issues.
If your gutter system is older or damaged, you’re likely considering repairing or replacing it. However, do you know the differences and how to make the best decision for your home? Keep reading for a decision-making guide to determine if your gutters need a repair or replacement.
Why Repair or Replace Gutters?
Suppose you have an older gutter system or one damaged from a recent or past storm. It’s probably not properly collecting and carrying water away from the roof and might have difficulty diverting water from the home. Meltwater and stormwater may remain stagnant inside the gutters, eventually seeping into the soffit, fascia, and roof shingles.
A damaged soffit, fascia, or roof caused by a faulty gutter system can be a headache for homeowners and comes with a steep price to repair or replace. Faulty gutters may force water to spill over the sides, seeping into the soffit and fascia, potentially causing wood rot and requiring a full replacement. Likewise, a gutter that allows water to remain on the roof can cause damage to the shingles, underlayment, and even the rafters, an expensive repair that puts a major dent in your finances.
Along with damage to the roof, soffit, and fascia, faulty gutters can cause basement leaks and foundation damage. Excess water spills over the gutter sides and will collect on the ground directly beneath the gutters, forming a trench around the foundation. Basement leaks and foundation cracks are common issues caused by faulty gutters.
When to Repair Gutters
Gutter repair is often needed if you have traditional half-round gutters. If your gutters have any of the issues below, take a look at our DIY gutter repair guide.
They’re Clogged
Have you noticed your gutters aren’t allowing water to flow through the system? Can you see something protruding from the top of the gutters? If so, your gutters are likely clogged, a common issue with half-round gutters with no gutter guards. Short-term clogged gutters can be repaired by removing the clog and flushing out the gutters to remove debris. You can clean your gutters or hire a professional gutter cleaning service to remove clogs and other debris.
However, if your gutters have been clogged over a couple of seasons it might be time to replace them. Debris like pine needles, leaves, twigs, and pests will slowly build up if the gutters aren’t properly cleaned. This slow build-up often results in a large clog that grows bigger and bigger until it eventually impedes all water flow. If neglected, clogs can damage the gutters, the roof, the soffit and fascia, and the foundation. Keeping gutters clean is essential for extending their lifespan and protecting your home from drainage issues.
Small, Localized Leaks
Another common issue with traditional sectional gutters is small, localized leaks, often requiring repair if it’s in one area, not multiple. Why? Sectional gutters are installed by connecting each section with blots and screws and sealants. These sections can easily loosen over time, especially from excess weight like heavy snow, ice dams, and rain.
You can tighten loose bolts and screws in sections that have small, localized leaks yourself or hire a professional gutter repair service. Depending on the section, it might also require reapplication of sealant to prevent the gutter from leaking through the gaps in between sections.
When to Replace Gutters
Gutter replacement is best for gutters that exhibit any of these issues:
Water is Stagnant
If you’ve examined your gutters and haven’t seen water flow through them to and out the downspouts during a heavy rainstorm, the water inside your gutters is stagnant. When water doesn’t flow through the gutters, it becomes stagnant and stale, creating the perfect breeding environment for insects like mosquitoes. This stagnant water will indefinitely seep under roof shingles or trickle toward the soffit and fascia, causing extreme damage. Before these issues occur, consider replacing your gutters.
Corrosion/Holes
If gutters aren’t made from high-quality materials or have suffered previous damage from a severe storm or neglect from not cleaning them, the gutter material will break down and corrode, forming rust and holes. This occurs when the paint on a gutter chips, exposing the metal. Depending on the material, it’ll oxidize quickly when exposed to the elements. High humidity and frequent rainstorms can speed up the corrosion process. If your gutters have corrosion or holes, skip trying to repair them and opt for gutter replacement.
Sagging Gutters
Gutters sag when not properly cleaned, clogs form and remain, or from excess weight on the gutter like heavy ice or snow. They mostly sag if the gutters aren’t high-quality and the material can’t support the weight of heavy snow or rainfall, ice dams, or they suffer storm damage. Sagging gutters can tear away from the home and damage your home’s roof, soffit, fascia, and siding. If you notice sagging, consider gutter replacement immediately to avoid extensive damage.
A Permanent Gutter Solution from K-Guard® of Central Ohio
If you want a permanent gutter solution that never needs cleaning or replacing, consider installing the K-Guard® Leaf Free Gutter System. It’s a full system with multiple components like a curved hood that work together to prevent clogs while keeping water moving through the system rapidly. Because debris can’t enter the system it’ll stay clog-free for life! That means never having to perform gutter maintenance or repair your gutters again. Plus, it’s a seamless gutter system so there’s no chance for seams to loosen or the gutters to leak. K-Guard® gutters are best for Ohio because they can withstand any weather condition, never needing maintenance, gutter repair, or gutter replacement.
K-Guard® also comes with a transferrable lifetime warranty that protects your investment. Our lifetime warranty ensures your gutter system’s paint will never chip or fade, the system will never clog, and you’ll never need to perform gutter maintenance again. No other gutter system on the market can match the durability, capacity, performance, and warranty of K-Guard®.
Contact our team today if you’re ready to switch to the K-Guard® System. We’ll be happy to schedule a free estimate and provide a detailed analysis of your current gutter system and a quote for installing our K-Guard® Gutters.