What is Gutter Pitch?
All gutters are installed at a slight angle so water drains out instead of remaining stagnant. Gutters don’t appear slanted because installation companies know what they’re doing, but we assure you they are.
Gutters have an angled slope based on this formula:
¼ of an inch of drop per 10 feet of gutter
This formula tells your gutter installation technician right where to attach the downspout so that even heavy amounts of rain can flow unobstructed from your roof. The side of your home’s roof where the downspouts are is the side that should be the lower end.
Longer areas of gutter, like across the front of a house, may require a downspout on both sides. When this is the situation, the rain gutters will be pitched from the middle, which means that the middle of the roofline will be the highest point, and both downspouts should be lower than this middle point.
Gutter Pitch Problems
If your gutters are installed incorrectly or if they have become loose or bent at all, it can lead to problems that can be expensive and complex to repair.
When there is something wrong with your gutter pitch, it can make water back up in your gutters. Water is a typical problem around the home, as it can cause all of the following issues:
- Rain in the gutters can lead to roof damage because of the standing water. When rain doesn’t flow from the gutters, water can seep under the shingles and cause damage to the fascia, sub-roofing and even get inside your home.
- Pooling water is one way mold and mildew can grow on sections of your roof, gutters or siding. Removing mold is a very hard task, especially when it grows on your roof. Mold is known for destroying organic materials (many of which are common in your house) and making people feel ill.
- The weight of blocked water inside your gutters can cause them to pull away from your home. The gutters can pull fasteners from the walls, damaging your vinyl or other exterior material. It can also ruin 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 do:
Look for Hanging Spots
Like we mentioned before, you shouldn’t be able to notice the slope of your gutters. If you can visibly tell where the low point is, this is a sign that your gutter is damaged or that it is getting old.
You should still be able to notice a dip in the gutters from the ground, so this is a safe job that homeowners can do on their own, with their feet on the ground.
Check for Standing Water
Rain water follows the path of least resistance, so any amount of water inside of your gutters is an issue. If possible, check the gutters immediately after rainfall so you can see the draining of the water.
This might require you to climb a ladder, so exercise caution. If you don’t feel comfortable doing this, you can have a handyman or a gutter specialist from UC Gutter Cleaning do it for you.
Inspect for Shingle Particles
Any tiny granules remaining in the gutters from your roof shingles means the rain gutters may not have enough pitch, so the water can’t carry these heavier materials out. Grit or sludge in your gutters is more common after getting a new roof installed because it will tend to lose excess particles in the first few years.
You can climb up a ladder and take a look, or you may see some of the particles making their way out of your gutters through the downspouts. If you see a small amount in these areas, chances are there is more that is unable to make its way out.
Why is There Overflow?
Gutter overflow is typically caused by a blockage, but it can also be the result of incorrect gutter pitch. If rain water is flowing in the wrong direction, know as “back pitch,” you will see water overflowing from the end cap. This can cause damage to your roof, gutters and nearby landscaping.
To stop the possibility of a blockage, schedule gutter cleaning at least once a year or install gutter guards. If the gutters are clean but there is still overflow, it’s another sign that there is a gutter pitch problem.
Professional Gutter Damage Repair
When your gutter pitch is distorted, it can lead to several problems for your home. All of the issues above can let you know that your gutter pitch is not right.
Regardless of whether your gutters were damaged or they were installed poorly to begin with, they need to be re-pitched in order to avoid significant home repairs, including siding damage, leaks and landscape damage.
Gutter Repair in Union City
The first option will be repairing your existing gutters so the proper pitch is restored. If the gutters are in good condition and undamaged, this should be the route UC Gutter Cleaning recommends.
To restore gutter pitch, UC Gutter Cleaning will loosen the gutter, but they won’t have to take it totally down. This saves labor costs and time. Then the technician will measure and calculate the proper pitch and reinstall the gutters, moving fasteners if necessary, to fit the specific measurements.
Gutter Installation in Union City
If your rain gutters are severely damaged, or if they are starting to rust or wear down with age, UC Gutter Cleaning may recommend to replace them instead of re-pitching them. This will be more economical in the long run and time-saving.
If your gutters have to be replaced with new ones, they will include new fasteners, hardware and downspouts. The installer will set the gutters at the appropriate pitch. You can reference the tips in this blog post to make sure the new installation is done the right way.