Gutter leaks could stem from a variety of sources, such as incorrect installation and clogs.

Why Are My Gutters Leaking?

A wide range of sources can cause gutter leaking.

Are your gutters leaking and you don’t know why? Gutter leaks could stem from a variety of sources, such as incorrect installation and clogs. Regular gutter maintenance is key in avoiding problems like leaks so you don’t end up with costly repairs or even full replacement down the road. That said, even the most rigorous cleanings every season can’t guard against every cause of leaks.

Here are some common causes of gutter leaks and what you can do about them:

Image via AJ Batac on Flickr

CLOGS

Debris such as dirt, twigs, leaves, acorns and even birds’ nests can become lodged in your gutters and clog up the flow of water. When water can’t pass through, this can lead to a backup, overflow and damage that can cause leaks. The obvious way to avoid this is to keep your gutters free from debris by cleaning them out regularly. Your gutters might need to be cleaned once a season or several times a season, depending on your climate and immediate landscape. For example, if you have trees overhanging the home that drop leaves, sticks and pine needles into the gutters, you’ll have to do this task more often.

Sometimes clogs are out of your control no matter how clean you keep your gutters. Your kids may throw a ball up there that gets lodged, leading to damage that causes leaks, for example. Check often for these obstructions and get them out as soon as possible.

INCORRECT INSTALLATION

If your gutters were installed by a professional who took a few shortcuts or you attempted to install the gutters yourself, you could be faced with a higher risk for some pretty major leaks. Here is a good example of how shoddy workmanship can save you money in the short run but cost lots more in the long run.

A common consequence of a choice like this includes improper sloping, which leads to pooling water at the spouts’ corners. Having a professional install your gutters in the first place will avoid this headache later.

ATTACHMENT FAILURE

Gutters can become dislodged as the result of any number of causes, such as forceful winds, downed trees, fascia warping and more. These pressures can actually pull the gutters away from the home, weakening the fasteners and nails. Take the time each season to inspect your gutters and their attachments, making any adjustments to tighten them if needed. If you’re not sure you can get up to your gutters’ level safely on your own, don’t hesitate to call a professional to come perform the inspection for you.

POOR QUALITY MATERIALS

The gutters you install can also have a lot to do with leaks, as sub-par products can corrode and rust out over time. If you have gutters with several joints, leaks can form at seams and end caps where water can get trapped. Using seamless gutters backed by a lifetime warranty, like the one we offer, is a tidy way to avoid the issue. This type of system cuts down on the possibility for leaks because there are no seams where they can start in the first place.

Contact LeafGuard of Oklahoma today to get a free estimate and schedule a consultation on the gutter systems we offer. We are proud to offer our customers advice to keep their homes in good shape as long as possible.

Your gutters become unwelcome homes to many things over the seasons: twigs, acorns, pine needles, leaves, dirt, and even nests. Thanks to durable, one-piece construction, your LeafGuard gutter system allows only water to enter the gutter while keeping out dirt, leaves and other debris.

How To Clean Different Types Of Gutter Clogs

Your gutters become unwelcome homes to many things over the seasons: twigs, acorns, pine needles, leaves, dirt, and even nests. Perhaps you’ve experienced clogging, which leads to pooled water around your foundation. Clogged gutters can also lead to damaged gutters requiring costly repair. Not to mention, this can also be dangerous as your gutters could pull away from the home. To avoid all that, you’ve probably been getting up on a ladder and scooping out the debris on your own.

Image via Christopher Sessums on Flickr

But there’s a better way, and that’s through clog-free LeafGuard® gutter systems. Thanks to durable, one-piece construction, your LeafGuard® gutter system allows only water to enter the gutter while keeping out dirt, leaves and other debris. This type of system is 20 percent thicker than standard gutters, allowing your system to handle up to 30 inches of rain fall an hour!

If you don’t already have a clog-free system, you may be wondering how to clean clogged gutters. We’ll give you a few tips:

SMALL DEBRIS

Small debris such as small particles, tiny twigs and dirt can be washed away with your garden hose or a pressure washer on the lowest setting. Direct the flow down the gutters towards the downspouts to get it all out.

LARGE DEBRIS

When you notice clumps of leaves, sticks, acorns and birds’ nests blocking the normal flow of water, it becomes harder to simply wash it away with a hose. You’ll have to get up there on a sturdy ladder to physically scoop out the debris. Bring a bucket with you and use a ladder hook so you can keep your hands free. Wear gloves and use a scoop or garden trowel or just your hands to get everything out. Place it in the bucket. To get at the debris stuck at the bottom, use a paint stir stick to help. Then, use a garden hose to wash out the small stuff that’s left.

SAFETY

Cleaning out your own gutters is inherently dangerous. Standing 10 to 20 feet above the ground on a ladder or the roof is just risky unless you are careful and take precautions. For safety reasons, it’s best to hire a professional for this job. If you insist on doing it yourself, make sure you have a ladder stabilizer, harnesses, and other safety equipment, as well as a buddy to spot you.

Have you had it with clogged gutters? Sick and tired of getting up on a ladder to clear them out all the time? Call LeafGuard® of Oklahoma today at 918-827-7900 for a solution that works for you. Check out the benefits of clog-free LeafGuard® gutters here.

Water is essential to a beautiful, blooming backyard, but having extreme wet conditions and poor water drainage isn’t the ideal gardening environment. There are a number of creative landscaping techniques to improve yard drainage problems. Contact Home Solutions of Iowa for a LeafGuard@ gutter system.

Landscaping Projects To Help With Yard Drainage Problems

Poor water drainage can damage your gardening environment.

Water is essential to a beautiful, blooming backyard, but having extreme wet conditions and poor water drainage isn’t the ideal gardening environment. While a little bit of excess water may simply be a nuisance, poor water drainage, particularly in areas of high rainfall, can lead to serious health, safety, and financial concerns. Thankfully, there are a number of creative landscaping techniques to improve yard drainage problems. Deciding how to deal with water drainage largely depends on the degree and extent of wet conditions, whether it’s a year-round issue or simply a seasonal one. After assessing the situation, try out some of these landscaping projects that will help you manage how the extra water in your yard drains.

Image via Lawrence Simon on Flickr

BUILD A RAIN GARDEN

Building a rain garden is a wonderful way to filter runoff and protect groundwater, particularly after heavy rainfall. Not only do rain gardens help with drainage issues, such as preventing storm water runoff, removing pollutants, and recharging groundwater, they are also an installation that will beautify your property’s landscape. Before building a rain garden, decide where it should go. Ideal spots for rain gardens are low spots or depressions, at least 10 feet from the house. When choosing plants to populate the rain garden with, it’s best to stick to those that do well in wet conditions. Native plants and grasses are excellent places to start. Planting plugs rather than seeds is probably your best bet for your rain garden: seeds may be washed away with the next rainfall.

ADD A DRY STREAM BED

For relatively small sections of excess moisture, it may be desirable to eliminate the patch entirely rather than work around it. Many people have discovered the beauty and functionality of the dry creek or stream bed. Creating your own dry stream bed can be done by simply choosing the size and course of the bed, digging up the soil, and adding rocks. A dry creek bed can redirect moisture during heavy rain, or it can be used to disguise underground pipes that direct water away from the home.

DIGGING A TRENCH

Also known as a French drain, a gravel-filled trench is another way to add to your yard drainage landscape design. These trenches essentially work by catching and deflecting water to another area. Though they can be fairly labor intensive, you’ll only need to dig once to solve your problems. First, locate the area where water runoff is a problem and then dig a trench that directs the water towards a storm drain or dry well. Generally the trench should be 12 inches deep and 6-12 inches wide, depending on how much water you want to divert, and sloped 1 inch for every 8 feet of horizontal distance the water will need to travel. After filling the trench with gravel or small stones, you can further beautify it with larger river rocks or a bordering flower bed.

CATCH BASIN

Another way to alleviate drainage issues is through the addition of a catch basin. They work essentially like storm drains and can easily be purchased at home improvement stores. To install your catch basin, you simply dig a hole to place the basin in and then add a fitted grate to the top. Then dig a trench from the basin towards a storm drain or dry well, attaching a PVC pipe to the catch basin and laying it out along the trench to re-direct the water.

CHOOSING THE RIGHT PROJECT

While gardening with only the most water-loving plants might be simple enough, some drainage solutions like ponds, trenches, and water gardens may be more complicated. If you’re not the do-it-yourself type or feel unsure about what type of yard drainage landscape would be best for your yard, there’s no need to worry. Call a professional, like the gutter experts at LeafGuard® of Oklahoma, to guide you through the process, from what type of drainage is ideal to final installation, and get started today!