If your gutters no longer route water away from your foundation, that’s a big problem. Luckily, most issues are easy to spot and fix on your own. Better yet, by performing regular gutter maintenance, you can avoid some of these problems in the first place.

Here are five common issues that result from skipping frequent gutter maintenance:

• Clogged Gutters: When you don’t clean out your gutters often enough, they can develop blockages. Filled with compacted leaves and twigs, they’ll start to overflow with water, which can lead to numerous issues. First, they’ll start dripping over the edge and compromising your foundation, and, after a while, the extra weight of the standing water will cause the gutters to become misshapen or pull away from the roof.

• Sagging Gutters: Over time, your gutters will eventually start to sag and pull away from your fascia boards. This can be caused by one of many situations, including deteriorating gutter hangers and standing water accumulation. It’s important to check them periodically for signs of wear and after a big storm to ensure they’re still functioning properly.

• Gutter Leaks: Often as a result of wear and tear, the seals between gutter joints can come undone and then need to be re-caulked. You can entrust this task to a gutter maintenance specialist or stop by your local hardware store for sealant or a patching kit.

• Improper Pitching: The pitch of your gutters is the angle or slope at which they’re directed towards your downspouts. Improper pitching will allow standing water to collect, among other problems. If your gutters aren’t aligned properly, you can sometimes adjust the hangers yourselves and ensure there is at least a quarter inch of slope for every 10 feet of gutter.

• Poor Downspout Placement: To keep your foundation in good condition, downspouts should dump water several feet from the house or have extensions that carry water far enough away. If your downspouts aren’t doing their job, you can usually install extensions yourself.

Need help with gutter maintenance for your Oahu home? You can count on Gutter King to get everything back in order! To request a quote, give them a call at (808) 621-5115. More information about the Waialua, HI-based gutter contractors is available online.