How to Inspect Your Gutters Properly
Regular inspections are (or should be) part of your gutter maintenance routine. In addition to keeping your gutters in good condition, it can also help prevent costly repairs. Here’s how to conduct a proper inspection.
How to Inspect Your Gutters Properly
Before you inspect your gutters, it’s important to keep in mind that you are not expected to perform repairs or make changes to the gutters. This means you’ll be using household tools that you likely already have. Bring a notebook or your phone to document your findings in case you find problems.
- Inspect the gutters from the ground. The first thing you need to do is check your gutters from the ground. From a low angle, you can easily spot inconsistencies like sections knocked out of place or missing parts like hangers. Pay attention to joints – they may need to be cleaned and have caulk reapplied if it’s already worn out.
- Check the gutters for holes and cracks. If you’ve been keeping your gutters clear of leaves and debris, you should be able to spot holes and cracks fairly easily when light passes through them. To test for leaks, spray water on the roof using a garden hose and let the water flow into the gutter troughs. Make a note or take pictures or video of leaks for your roofers or gutter contractors.
- Watch out for standing water. Ideally, gutters should be empty when it’s not raining. Standing water in the gutters indicates improper drainage that can lead to corrosion. It may also let mosquitoes breed in your gutters. Use a sturdy stepladder to climb to the edge of the roof (not on the roof itself) to inspect the gutter troughs. Alternatively, you can use an inspection mirror with a telescoping handle to check your gutters from the ground.
What Happens Next?
Once you have inspected your gutters, talk to your local gutter contractor about your findings, and come up with a repair and maintenance plan. Issues with gutters are easy to spot, but correcting them needs a trained hand.
Roof Masters provides gutter and roofing services to customers in Rockville, MD, and the surrounding communities. Give us a call at (301) 230-7663, or fill out our contact form to schedule an appointment.