Your gutters serve an important purpose in protecting your roof and home from damage. Understand how gutter issues cause damage so you can spot when a repair needs to be made.
1. Roof Leaks
When gutters aren't draining properly, water can backflow a few inches up the roof from where it hits the gutter. This backflow can seep beneath the shingles at the roof's edges, where it can leak into your attic. Blockages are most often caused by debris in a gutter or downspout but occasionally issues with the slope of the gutter can also cause drainage problems.
2. Ice Dams
Backflow from the gutter during cold weather poses another issue — ice dams. Ice dams form when the backflow freezes once it gets under the shingles. This creates a dam that traps more water behind the gutter system so that the frozen block beneath the shingle continues to grow. When it finally melts, all that water may leak right into your attic. Repairing the gutter to prevent backflow issues is the main way to prevent ice dams.
3. Eave Damage
Many homes have eaves that are made of wood. When gutters are leaking or are aligned improperly so water flows behind them, that water then flows over the wooden eaves. The water then wears off the paint on the wood and increases the chances for rot and water damage. The only way to prevent the rot is to have the eaves repainted so they have a waterproof seal, and then repair the gutters so that they don't leak down the eaves anymore.
4. Mildew and Mold
Water leaking from or behind guttering can also get behind the siding on your home. If you have wood siding, rot can be an issue just as it is with wooden eaves. Another major issue is mildew and mold. Moisture trapped behind the siding can't easily evaporate. Instead, the excess moisture creates the perfect conditions for mold growth, and spores can leak inside your home and cause respiratory distress.
5. Foundation Issues
One of the primary purposes of a good roof gutter system is to route water safely away from your foundation. When gutters leak or overflow, or downspouts are placed too closely to the foundation, water can pool against the foundation. The pressure from this collected water increases the chances of the development of a foundation crack or leak.
For more information about gutter repair, contact a local service.
