When Should You Install New Gutter Systems?

Photo by Bibhukalyan Acharya from Pexels

Through the autumn and winter, your gutters will collect leaves and dirt, much of which will accumulate at the downspouts or collect around seams and clog things up. Good gutters will protect your roof, siding, foundation, and even your garden. They do their job silently, and when gutters fail, the signs aren’t always obvious. How do you know when you need to install new ones?

There Are Cracks And Pulled Apart Seams

Some gutter cracks are easy to see. Others only become visible when water is actually running through the gutter. When the snow melts or spring rains are gushing through your gutters, get outside and look carefully for dripping water.

Water that escapes your gutters could damage siding and even get into the walls of the house. If it’s not being whisked away from the foundation as it should, it could damage flood the basement, forcing you to get furnace repair or spend thousands on water cleanup.

Paint Is Peeling Along The Roof

Sometimes the cracks and water leakage aren’t easy to see. If you don’t see actual water running out of the gutter, but you do see paint that’s cracking or bubbling up, you almost certainly have a leak.

If the peeling extends beyond one small spot, then it’s time to start thinking about a whole new gutter system rather than a simple repair. Compromised paint is just the first sign of a larger problem.

Your Windows And Doors Are Rotting

If your door jambs, roof overhangs, or window sills keep rotting, it’s time to get new gutters. This kind of rot happens when wood trim elements aren’t getting adequate protection from the weather, and that means your gutters are under-performing.

Once the rot sets in, the water can seep further into your home and into the walls, compromising the entire structure. New gutter installation can put a stop to the damage and keep it from happening again.

You’re Sick Of So Much Maintenance

If you’re tired of getting up on the roof three times a year and cleaning out leaves and spring blossoms, fixing seams, and repairing brackets, it’s time for new gutters.

With seamless gutters, there’s no more worrying about gutters pulling apart in the middle. With gutter guards or leaf guards, cleaning maintenance is a lot easier. Simply updating your gutters can save you money (and a lot of hassles) in the end.

There’s Mildew In Your Foundation

Gutter downspouts have a key function: to take dangerous water far, far away from your home. Even if the water isn’t actually getting into your basement, constant exposure to damp could be causing dangerous mildew growth.

Mildew doesn’t look good: it detracts from your home’s curb appeal and total value. It’s also unhealthy, exacerbating allergies and asthma, especially in more sensitive people. Worst of all, it can eventually dangerously compromise the structural integrity of your home.

It’s Time For A Spring Checkup

Take advantage of the mild weather in spring. It is usually the best time to inspect your gutters and decide about having new ones installed. As snow melts or spring rains startup, you have the perfect opportunity to do some maintenance and get a good look at how the gutters are performing at the same time.

You’re the one who must make the final decision about whether it’s time for new gutters. You’re also the one stuck with the costs of failing gutters harm your roof, wreck your siding, rot your window sills, or compromise your basement and foundation. In the end, if your gutters aren’t doing their job, it’s time to replace them with some that will.