How Do You Know When It Is Time to Replace Your Gutters?
Your gutters may not be a part of the home that you pay a lot of attention to, but they play a vital role in protecting the exterior of your home. Gutters collect water as it falls from the roof and carries the water away from the home. This helps to protect your siding, foundation, and landscaping from water hitting them. At some point in time, your gutters will need to be replaced. As such, you may be wondering when it is time to replace your gutters. Here are four of the key signs your gutters will give you if they are ready to be replaced.
Your Gutters are Rusted or Corroded
One of the signs that it is time to replace your gutters is gutters that are rusted or corroded. If you see a small amount of rust or corrosion on your gutters, they should be cleaned immediately to remove that rust or corrosion. However, if the problem is widespread or has been going on for some time, your gutters need to be replaced. Both rust and corrosion can weaken the integrity of the metal, which can lead to holes developing in the gutters. Additionally, rust from the gutters can leave rust stains on the side of your home, so replacing gutters quickly with cast iron gutters is important to prevent both of those issues.
Your Gutters are Sagging
Another sign that it may be time to replace your gutters is gutters that are sagging. Depending on their age and condition, the gutters may be sagging with or without rainwater in them. Gutters that are sagging cannot be repaired. They have reached the end of their lifespan and should be replaced. If the gutters are sagging, they tell you they can no longer support the weight of the rainwater that collects in them. If you do not replace them, they can start to pull away from the home and/or collapse if large amounts of rain or snow accumulate within the trough of the gutter system. This can be damaging to the siding where the gutter is mounted.
Your Gutters Are Splitting at the Seams
There are two different types of gutters that can be installed on your home. There are seamless gutters, which are made from one large piece of metal and do not have any seams between them. Then there are seamed gutters. Seamed gutters consist of pieces of metal gutters that are fitted together. The seam forms where the two metal pieces fit together, much like you have a seam on clothing where two different pieces of fabric come together. As seamed gutters start to age, they can start to separate at the seams. You may see holes or gaps in the seams. In some cases, the seams can be repaired. However, if the problem is widespread, your gutters will likely need to be replaced.
Your Gutters Are Starting to Pull Away From the House
The final sign that your gutters need to be replaced is gutters that are starting to pull away from the home. If you stand underneath your gutters and look up, you should not be able to see a gap between the siding of your home and the gutters. The gutters should be under the roof, flush against the side of your home. However, due to heavy items sitting in the gutters and/or age, the gutters can start to pull away from the home. When this happens, you will start to see a gap between the gutters and your siding. This is a key indicator that the gutters need to be replaced. If you leave them, they can pull out, damaging your roof and/or siding.
If it is time to replace your gutters, a gutter contractor can help remove the old ones and install the new ones. After that is complete, you may want to consider installing a K-Guard Gutter System. A K-Guard Gutter System goes over the top of your gutters, helping to keep everything but water out, such as leaves and sticks. This can help to extend the life of your new gutters and reduce the amount of debris that collects in gutters, slowing your gutter system down.
