You might think that the answer to that question is obvious.  Certainly, if the gutters aren’t working right, gutter replacement or repair needs to be added to the home projects to-do list and scheduled fairly quickly.  You should also regularly inspect your gutters for signs that are not always obvious. Here are some clues that you may have gutter issues:

• Weight from debris trapped in your gutters can cause the gutter to pull away from the house or sag.  This can cause water to leak behind the gutter, wreaking havoc with the roof or siding and causing potential leaks, mold and rot inside your home.  If your gutters are not hanging properly, they may not effectively channel water into the downspouts.

• Mold or peeling paint on your home’s exterior may be a sign that your gutters are leaking and may need to be repaired or replaced.

• Discoloring of the siding on your home might be from back-splash.  Wind can force water from overflowing gutters onto your exterior siding.  The discoloration of your siding is key indicator that you may have a gutter problem.

• A damp basement or cracks in the foundation of your home can both be signs pointing towards gutter issues.  When gutters clog, they force the water to overflow over the sides, thus causing water to potentially accumulate down around the foundation of your home.

• In the winter, look to see if snow and ice are building up within the gutter and on the roof.  These can cause leaks that damage your home.  Water can seep behind the gutters, causing the water to leak into your walls.  Unknown water in the walls left unattended can quickly allow unhealthy mold and rot to form.

• A walk around your property can also give you additional indicators that you may have gutter problems.  As you take your stroll, look for signs that water is causing erosion in unexpected places.  Small sections of rocky material where there was once a solid layer of topsoil is one sign of erosion.  A small area of uneven topsoil and spaces, where the water stands after a drenching rain, is another sign.

Give your gutters a regular visual inspection from the ground.  You should also make it a point to walk around the house during a heavy rain storm to watch your gutter system in action.  Inspect each downspout during a rain storm.  Determine where the water flows once it exits the downspout. Is the water flow causing areas of erosion?

Do this walk around in different seasons.  As the autumn leaves fall from the trees, be sure to look for overflows or blockages caused by buildup of the leaf material, especially if you do not have gutter protection as part of your gutter system.

During your regular inspection process, you may find that it is time to replace you current gutter system.  If you do find that it is gutter replacement time, talk to the professional team at Allied Siding and Windows.  They will answer any questions that you may have and they can install a unique, large capacity gutter system called RainPro™ that is custom cut to ensure a perfect fit for your home.  The RainPro™ Design Series gutters are created to give your home ultimate protection.  Using only high quality products in conjunction with their stringent construction and production practices, Allied Siding and Windows gives an optimum level of performance, results, and satisfaction for each customer they serve.  Call Allied Siding and Windows today at 713-946-3697 for additional information.