Gutters that need to be excessively maintained likely need some form of repair or replacement. If your gutters are failing to route water away from your house and its foundation, the gutters are not doing their job, and likely need replacement. Maintaining clean gutters is an absolute necessity. Gutter cleaning and maintenance prolong the lifespan, but eventually, gutters become worn and outdated and need replacement.
Signs that you need a gutter replacement include:
- Mold or mildew around the foundation. When mold and mildew form around your foundation, it can be an indication of excess water.
- Pools of water. Water pooling can also indicate gutter failure. This can lead to flooding and extreme water damage to your home.
- Leaking or overflowing gutters. This may indicate that your gutters need to be cleaned, or they have been installed improperly, and may require a full replacement.
- Gutters that are cracked, split, or broken. Ignoring issues like small cracks will only allow the problem to worsen and eventually affect the boards, shingles, and exterior around the gutter.
- Rust in the gutter runoff. This indicates that there is enough still water in the gutter system to create rust, and the gutter isn’t functioning properly.
- Sagging gutters. Gutters that sag down or pull away from the roof are likely full of water and require severe cleaning or replacement.