Whenever it rains and water leaks behind your eavestrough, chances are you won’t notice. That’s because you may be inside your house and not outside looking at the eavestroughs. But, you will see the water flow via your window. Otherwise, brace yourself for serious gutter leaks.
Gutters leaking behind at the eavestroughs could happen because of several factors. One is the loose fasteners. So, in this article, get to know the causes and fixes of water drips behind your eaves.
Common Reasons For Leaky Eavestrough
The Drip Edge Installed Improperly
Drip edges are overhanging components or metal flashings with outward projecting lower edges. Moreover, drip edges do the following:
- Controlling the dripping water’s direction.
- Protecting the underlying building components.
Water sucks back on a drip edge and then runs down behind the gutters when the shingles don’t extend past it. In short, that’s called capillary action. So more than likely, the drip edge installation is incorrect.
If your local roofer did the work, notify them to relook at the installation again. And if the installation could have been done better, call your local professional roofer or company.
Drip Edge not Installed
Your local roofer never installed the drip edge during your roof’s installation. It’s understandable since some roofers never installed them back in the day. But nowadays, installing drip edges is highly recommended.
Moreover, in some cases, drip edge installation is necessary. So, if your roofing system lacks drip edges, contact a pro roofer to do the installation ASAP.
Improperly Hanging Gutter System/Loose Gutters
Another cause of water drippage within the eavestrough is improper gutter system installation. Or, the gutter system needs to be securely fastened to your fascia board. Moreover, your fascia board may have rotten.
When your fascia board rots, the eaves’ weight will make the fasteners loosen or hang less tight. So, ensure your fascia isn’t rotten and appropriately secured. If the fascia board is rotten, it will help to replace it.
Refrain from replacing the board by yourself. Instead, let your favorite roofer do it for you!
Clogged Downspouts and Eavestrough
Please check your eaves right now. But that’s if you last did so a while ago. I say so because you may have clogged eavestrough or downspouts. Moreover, that might cause moisture to run down your home’s sides.
If you’ve noticed some water stains on your home’s sides, that might be the issue. But major blockages within the entire gutter may cause severe damage. But, of course, that’s if cleared later.
To clear these gutter blockages, do the following:
- Climb on your ladder safely.
- Manually clear the clogs from your eavestrough.
- Run a high-pressure garden hose down your gutter sections. Doing so clears any persistent blockage or other debris.
It would help to contact your pro roofer if doing that seems challenging.
Cracks and Holes
Even robust stuff or structures finally succumb to openings or cracks. They may do so because of weathering. So, checking your gutters frequently is critical. Otherwise, the small openings or cracks may expand, causing huge gaps that allow moisture leaks.
Typically, such issues manifest through minor water flows that develop into terrible leaks. So, inspect your eaves when there’s water leaking at small-ish spots.
Applying a waterproof caulk or sealant yourself repairs most tiny cracks and holes. But, it would help to replace your eavestrough if the holes or cracks are much more significant.
Improperly Sealed or Separated Joints
The joints linking your eaves’ parts may finally separate at one point. And for that reason, it would be best to scrutinize the eaves’ joints. Sometimes, observing the separation might be straightforward.
But sometimes, you’ll need to pour water to identify the leaking spots. You can repair most joint runnings by replacing its old sealant that may no longer be watertight. Also, You can attach a box miter to the runnings, preventing separated joints.
Nonetheless, an occasional joint replacement could be the sole solution. But in general, pine needles will trap moisture.
Loose Fasteners
Also, loose fasteners cause other eaves problems, even if they don’t cause sagging. Your eavestrough affixes into the fascia board, employing the following:
- Hangers.
- Screws.
- Nails.
The above things push straight through the eave’s face and within the board. Further, modest flows will be more significant around the fasteners when they turn loose.
How to Fix Eavestrough Leaking Water
1. Ensure you have the Ideal Size Galvanized Steel or Aluminum Gutters
Eaves come in several shapes and sizes. So, you’re spoilt for choice when picking the eaves type for your home. But if you choose the wrong size gutter, everything will backfire, causing leaks.
Moreover, it would help to pick a gutter with a more prominent trough for enough water collection. Do so if you reside in areas with lots of precipitation. Otherwise, your eaves system won’t keep up with mild or heavy rainfall.
Additionally, it would be best to get downspouts of the correct amount. That enables a proper water diversion. So, with fewer downspouts, moisture will back up and then float.
Fortunately, solid eavestrough specialists will help you pick the appropriate sizes and quantities. As a result, your eavestroughs will perform optimally.
2. Unclutter your Eavestrough
Debris builds up, consuming much-needed spaces on your eaves. In regular instances, these spaces allow moisture to accumulate.
Further, eaves’ sizes may be adequate to survive through the local climate. But, unfortunately, if they’ve got debris, the eaves will become useless.
For each setup, solid eaves always have free cleaning. That means uncluttering the gutters won’t be necessary.
3. Seal any Cracks
Cracks on your eaves might create long periods of trickles. That’s even if overflowing gutter systems cause miniature waterfalls. It is, sadly, challenging for untrained eyes to see cracks within a gutter system.
That’s why local pro roofers, in each installation, incorporate eaves resealing. The resealing removes cracks, possibly fixing your gutter’s weak spots.
4. Realign the Machine
You’ll encounter leaks galore when your eave isn’t pitched. So, it’s gradually essential for the body to incline. If that happens, moisture moves in a normal gravity flow, satisfying your downspouts.
Otherwise, moisture will puddle on the gutters, causing other unintended issues. For example, water damage may happen. But if your eavestrough incline too severely, moisture gushes beyond the downspout openings. When that happens, the machine will overshoot.
Further, that causes pesky miniature waterfalls. Realigning eaves can be tricky, as you can quickly tell. Without the proper knowledge, you’ll likely encounter issues. That’s why engaging your local pro roofer is critical.
Who else can realign your gutter system consistently if not your roofer? Moreover, the roofer guarantees suitable water diversion.
5. Install Gutter Protection to Prevent Leaky Gutters
Install dependable systems to maintain your gutter’s good shape for extended periods. Such systems prevent clogged eaves ultimately. Thus, strengthening the machine for better and exceptional performance.
You can prevent leaky gutters once and for all by installing gutter protection. And in doing so, you’ll also prevent critical home damage. Ask your favorite local roofer for a free gutter protection quote.
Leaky eaves are a nuisance. No homeowner would love to see drenched moisture when walking through their doorway. With the above preventative steps, the eaves will remain dry, preventing water damage.
Common Eavestrough Problems During Winter
Ice Dams
Whenever snow melts or refreezes within your gutters, ice dams form. Thus, it’ll disrupt water flow. Moreover, these ice dams are regular throughout. And that’s thanks to freezing nights and warm daytime temperatures.
Further, ice dams cause water backups, causing the following:
- Cracks.
- Sagging.
- Leaks.
- Rust.
It would help to clear your rooftop snow. Otherwise, you won’t prevent ice dams. In particular, pay attention to the following:
- Kitchen and bathroom vents.
- Eavestrough
- Attic.
Moreover, improving the attic insulation will also prevent ice dams. The snow melts faster when your roofing system is warm during the day. Thus, allowing the moisture runoff to move into the gutters.
If the moisture moves into the gutter, it’ll damage your roofing system.
Clogged Gutters
Autumn-caused dead leaves cause most gutter issues during winter.
Also, the piled-up leaves cause clogged downspouts. Thus, forcing the overflow of moisture.
Being proactive before snowfalls is the best way to avoid clogged gutters. So, clear your roofing system of any material causing clogs. It would help to get a leaf guard. Otherwise, prepare your ladder for manual leaves clean-ups.
The leaf guard protects the eaves from the following:
- Pine needles.
- Tree leaves.
- Dirt.
- Anything else causing clogging or disrupting proper water flow.
Icicles
Icicles are another common eaves problem during winter. These icicles damage your gutter sections due to excess weight. Thus, causing wear and tear that’ll force an eavestrough replacement.
Further, icicles are toxic to families or visitors. That’s because you won’t know when they’ll fall off. So, when knocking them off from the gutters, be careful.
Why is my Gutter Dripping with No Rain?
- Moisture standing within the gutter and a broken seal mean that the gutter corners are dripping water.
- The gutter system is sagging or pulling away from your house. That could indicate that there are weak supports or full gutters. Also, that could tell that your fascia board is rotten.
- Washed-out holes or landscaping in the ground below your gutters. That indicates overflowing water and clogged gutters.
- Wood damage within your windowsills or deck also happens because of overflowing gutters.
- Your downspouts could disconnect or get damaged. Thus, they won’t handle moisture from your roofing structure.
- The roof valleys are leaves-filled. That indicates the gutters are extra full because of leaves.
Conclusion
As we’ve seen, eavestrough leaking water shouldn’t be entertained! Otherwise, water pouring from your home’s side will cause water damage. But if that happens, don’t worry. Your local roofer can fix it.
Again, you’ll notice your eaves leaking before it becomes a menace. I say so because repair costs will increase when it becomes a hazard. Fortunately, several ways of telling if your eaves are leaking do exist.
Such tale-tell signs are soil indentations on your home’s sides or water stains on the exterior. Moreover, you can check if the soil beside your home is moist compared to the soil a few feet away.