What is Gutter Pitch?
Rain gutters are installed at a slight angle so that water flows out rather than sitting stagnant. They don’t appear slanted because installation pros know exactly what they’re doing, but they are.
Gutters have a specific slope based on this formula:
¼ of an inch of drop per 10 feet of gutter
This formula tells your gutter installer right where to fasten the downspout so that 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 the lower end.
Long sections of gutter, like across the front of a home, may require a downspout on each side. When this is the situation, the gutters will need to be pitched from the middle, meaning that the middle of the roofline will be the absolute highest point, and both downspouts need to be lower than this center point.
Gutter Pitch Problems
If your gutters are installed incorrectly or if they are loose or bent, it can create problems that can be expensive and difficult to fix.
When there is a gutter pitch problem, it can make water back up in your gutter channels. Water is a common problem around the home, as it can lead to all of the issues below:
- Water inside of the gutters can cause roof damage due to the standing water. When it doesn’t flow from the gutters, water can get underneath the shingles and cause damage to the fascia, sub-roofing and even leak inside your house.
- 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 appears on your roof. Mold is known for destroying organic materials (many of which are common in your home) and even making people sick.
- The weight of blocked water inside your rain gutters can lead them to pull away from your house. The gutters can tear out fasteners from the siding, destroying your vinyl or other exterior material. It can also destroy surrounding landscaping and windows.
Do You Have a Gutter Pitch Problem?
To be confident your gutters are correctly 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 see the slope of your gutters. If you can visibly identify where the low spot is, it is a sign that your gutter is damaged or it is getting old.
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 both feet on the ground.
Check for Standing Water
Rain water naturally follows the path of least resistance, so any amount of water in your gutters is a problem. If possible, inspect the gutters immediately after rainfall so you can see the draining of the water.
This may force you to climb a ladder, so be careful. If you aren’t comfortable doing this, you can have a handyman or a gutter specialist from Hammond Gutters & More! do it for you.
Inspect for Shingle Particles
Any small granules left behind in the gutters from your roof shingles are a sign that the rain gutters may not have enough slope, so the water can’t carry these heavier materials out. Grit or sludge inside of your gutters is common after having a new roof installed because it will tend to lose a lot of excess particles in the first few years.
You can climb up a ladder and look, or you may notice some of the particles flowing out of your gutters by way of 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 sometimes caused by a blockage, but it can also be the result of incorrect gutter pitch. If rain water is flowing in the wrong direction, called “back pitch,” you will probably see water overflowing from the end cap. This can problems for your roof, gutters and landscaping.
To eliminate the possibility of blockage, schedule gutter cleaning at least once a year or install gutter guards. If you know the gutters are clean but there are still signs of overflow, it’s another indicator that your gutter pitch may be wrong.
Professional Gutter Damage Repair
When your gutter pitch is incorrect, it can result in several problems for your home. All of the problems above can let you decide if your gutter pitch is wrong.
Regardless of whether your gutters were damaged or if they were installed incorrectly to begin with, they need to be re-pitched if you want to prevent major home repairs, including siding damage, leaks and landscape damage.
Gutter Repair in Hammond
The most affordable option will be repairing the existing gutters so the proper pitch is restored. If the gutters are in good condition and undamaged, this should be the route Hammond Gutters & More! recommends.
To re-establish gutter pitch, Hammond Gutters & More! 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 determine the correct pitch and reinstall the gutters, adjusting fasteners if necessary, to fit the correct measurements.
Gutter Installation in Hammond
If your rain gutters are severely damaged, or if they are rusting or wearing down with age, Hammond Gutters & More! may recommend to replace them rather than re-pitching them. This will be more economical over time and time-saving.
If your gutters need to be replaced with new ones, they will come compete with new fasteners, hardware and downspouts. The installer will set the gutters at the correct pitch. You can reference our tips above to ensure the new installation was done the right way.