What is Gutter Pitch?
Gutters are fastened at a slight angle so that water flows out rather than remaining stagnant. They don’t appear slanted because installation pros know exactly what they’re doing, but we assure you they are.
Gutters should have an angled slope based on this formula:
¼ of an inch of drop per 10 feet of horizontal gutter
This formula tells your gutter installation technician where to place the downspout so that even heavy amounts of rain can flow unobstructed from your roof. The side of your roof where the downspouts are located is the side that should be lower.
Long areas of gutter, like across the front of a house, may require a downspout on both sides. When this is happening, the gutters will be pitched from the middle, which means that the center of the roofline will be the highest point, and both downspouts should be lower than this center point.
Gutter Pitch Problems
If gutters are installed incorrectly or if they are loose or bent at all, it can cause problems that can be expensive and difficult to fix.
When there is a gutter pitch problem, it can make water back up in your gutters. Water is a common issue around the house, as it can lead to all of the issues below:
- Water in the gutters can cause roof damage because of the standing water. When rain doesn’t flow from the gutters, water can seep under the shingles and cause harm to the fascia, sub-roofing and even get inside your house.
- Pooling rain water is one way mold and mildew can grow on sections of your roof, gutters or siding. Removing mold is a challenging task, especially if it grows on your roof. Mold is known for destroying organic materials (many of which exist in your house) and making people feel ill.
- The weight of pooling water in your rain gutters can lead them to pull away from your home. The gutters can pull fasteners from the siding, destroying your vinyl or other exterior materials. It can also damage surrounding landscaping and windows.
Do You Have a Gutter Pitch Problem?
To make sure your gutters are properly pitched, here are a some of the things you can check:
Look for Hanging Spots
Like we mentioned above, you shouldn’t be able to notice the slope of your rain gutters. If you can noticeably tell where the low spot is, this is a sign that your gutter is damaged or that it is getting worn out.
You should be able to notice a dip in the gutters from below, so this is a safe job that you can do on your own, with their feet on the ground.
Check for Standing Water
Water naturally follows the path of least resistance, so any amount of water in your gutters is an issue. Try to inspect the gutters immediately after rainfall so you can see the flow of the water.
This might require you to climb a ladder, so exercise caution. If you aren’t comfortable doing this, you can have a handyman or a gutter specialist from Elkhart Gutter Experts do it for you.
Inspect for Shingle Particles
Any tiny granules remaining in the gutters from your shingles means the rain gutters might not have enough slope, so the water can’t carry these heavier materials out. Grit or sludge inside of your gutters is more common after having a new roof installed because it will tend to lose excess particles in the first couple of years.
You can climb up a ladder and look, or you might see some of these particles flowing out of your gutters from the downspouts. If you see a little in these areas, chances are there is more that is unable to make its way out.
Why is There Overflow?
Gutter overflow is usually caused by a blockage, but it can also be because of incorrect gutter pitch. If rain water is flowing the wrong way, called “back pitch,” you will probably see water overflowing from the end cap. This can damage to your roof, gutters and landscaping.
To stop the possibility of a blockage, schedule gutter cleaning at least once a year or install gutter guards. If you know the gutters are clean but there is still overflow, it’s another indicator that your gutter pitch may be wrong.
Professional Gutter Damage Repair
When your gutter pitch gets distorted, it can lead to many problems for your home. All of the issues above can let you determine if your gutter pitch is wrong.
No matter if your gutters were damaged or they were installed poorly in the first place, they need to be re-pitched if you want to avoid significant home repairs, including damage to siding, leaks and landscape damage.
Gutter Repair in Elkhart
The first option will be repairing the existing gutters so the correct pitch is restored. If the gutters are in good condition and undamaged, this should be the route Elkhart Gutter Experts recommends.
To correct gutter pitch, Elkhart Gutter Experts will loosen the gutter, but they won’t need to take it totally down. This saves labor costs and time. Then the technician will measure and determine the proper pitch and reinstall the gutters, moving fasteners if necessary, to fit the specific measurements.
Gutter Installation in Elkhart
If your rain gutters are severely damaged, or if they are starting to rust or wear down with age, Elkhart Gutter Experts may recommend to replace them instead of re-pitching them. This can be more economical over time and time-saving.
If your gutters have to be replaced, they will come compete with new fasteners, hardware and downspouts. The installer will set the gutters at the proper pitch. You can reference the tips in this blog post to make sure the new installation is done the right way.