Four Causes Of Gutter Leaks After A Severe Storm And Heavy Rainfall
Severe storms and heavy rainfall can be hard on your gutters. Unfortunately, damaged gutters can allow rainwater to soak into the structure's foundation, leading to foundation cracks and settling. Therefore, if your gutters start to leak after a severe storm and heavy rainfall, you should repair them immediately to avert structural damage. Below are four likely reasons your gutters are leaking and what you can do about it.
Damaged Gutter Joints
Sectional gutters come as individual pieces that are overlapped and attached using screws. During a severe storm, debris flying at high speed can knock out old, worn screws, leaving behind small holes in the gutters. Heavy rainfall can also exert pressure on the gutters, causing old screws to loosen and fall off. This causes the gutters to sag and leak. You should seal the leaking gutter joints using silicone sealant. Also, replace worn screws and hangers to prevent the gutters from detaching from the fascia.
Warped Gutters
Do you use vinyl or PVC gutters on your roof? Vinyl gutters are affordable and easy to install. Unfortunately, vinyl can warp easily when hit by a heavy object. Therefore, the impact of broken tree branches and large hailstones can damage the gutters, causing them to leak. Furthermore, vinyl gutters need to be sized correctly based on the volume of rainfall in the area.
If the volume of water exceeds the gutter's capacity, your gutters may start to sag. Also, the weight of the water may cause the hangers to detach from the fascia. Therefore, repair the worn gutters to prevent future leaks. You can also install additional hangers to secure vinyl gutters and prevent them from sagging during heavy rainfall.
Cracked Metal Gutters
Metal gutters are sturdier and more durable than PVC ones. However, after decades of collecting rainwater from the roof, metal gutters may develop surface corrosion. Corrosion causes the material to wear down. The impact of heavy debris during a storm can further weaken the metal and cause it to crack, leading to leaks.
You can use a sealant to repair the cracked gutter and contain the leak. However, if the cracks are localized to just one or two sections, you can replace the affected sections. This option provides a longer-term solution for areas with recurrent episodes of inclement weather. It can also increase the lifespan of your metal guttering system.
Poorly Installed Gutters
A poor-quality installation job can cause your gutters to leak during storms and heavy rainfall. For example, if the guttering system has an incorrect pitch, water may slip on the sides during heavy rainfall. Similarly, if inadequate hangers are used to secure the gutters, some sections may sag, causing rainwater to overflow. Therefore, fix the installation flaws in your guttering system to prevent leaks.
Contact a contractor for gutter repair services.