Gutters streamline all excess water away from your house, protecting its roofing, siding, and windows. When compromised, they can’t perform their primary duties and leave your home vulnerable to damage. Below are a few ways you can keep your gutters flowing smoothly and learn how to detect when they need repairs or replacements.

How to Spot Damaged or Old Gutters

Your roof is the first surface damaged when your gutters need replacing. Instead of flowing down and away from the structure, the water will collect and stagnate, compromising the roof’s integrity as the water further soaks into it. 

Cracks and dips can eventually lead to the structure’s collapse if it’s not taken care of. Because termites need water to reproduce and thrive, gutters that dump excess water encourage infestations, which can damage your siding and window casings. Also, as gutters age, they can rust and loosen from the home, eventually pulling away entirely.

How to Maintain Them

Address gutter clogs quickly. If it has been a while since it has rained, check your gutters and clean out leaves, twigs, dirt, and other debris that may have fallen in. That way, you can prevent these clogs from overflowing with water when the rain does come.

Look for leaks. Run a hose down your gutter and check to see if any areas drip or spurt out water. If you catch a leak early, you can ask a professional to fix it, saving you money in the long run.

Check for mold around your gutters, windows, and roofing. If you wait too long, it can grow and seep inside your home, which is harmful to your family’s health and more expensive to fix.

When to Replace the System

If you waited too long in between maintenance checks or if your gutters have incurred significant damage, it may be time to replace them completely. When a segment of the system sags or separates from the roof, it most likely needs to be replaced. Or, if you walk by a pool of water, collecting and stagnating, your gutter probably has a leak, and this puddle can cause structural damage to your home’s foundation if not replaced soon.

For gutter maintenance, repairs, and replacements, contact the remodeling contractors at Advanced Roofing & Construction in Lexington, KY, to inspect your home and give a professional recommendation. The customer-oriented team completes projects quickly and ensures they’re done well. Call (859) 983-4533 to schedule an estimate or visit them online to learn more about their roofing services.