What is Gutter Pitch?
Rain gutters are fastened at a slight angle so water drains out of them rather than sitting stagnant. They don’t look 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 gutter
This formula tells a gutter installer right where to attach the downspout so that heavy amounts of precipitation can flow unobstructed from your roof. The side of your home’s roof where the downspouts are located is the side that should be lower.
Long sections of gutter, like across the front of a house, require a downspout on each side. When this is the situation, the gutters will be pitched from the middle, which means that the middle of the roofline will be the highest point, and both downspouts need to be lower than this middle point.
Gutter Pitch Problems
If gutters are installed incorrectly or if they have become loose or bent, it can create problems that can be expensive and complex to repair.
When your gutter pitch is wrong, it can make water back up in your gutters. Water is a common problem around the home, as it can result in all of the issues below:
- Rain in the gutters can lead to roof damage because of the standing water. When it backs up in the gutters, water can seep under the shingles and cause damage to the fascia, sub-roofing and even leak inside your home.
- Standing water is one way mold and mildew can grow on of your roof, gutters or siding. Removing mold is a very hard task, especially when it appears on your roof. Mold is known for ruining organic materials (many of which are common in your home) and even making people sick.
- The weight of standing water in your gutters can lead them to tear away from your roof. The gutters can pull fasteners from the walls, damaging your vinyl or other exterior material. It can also destroy 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
As we mentioned above, you shouldn’t be able to see the slope of your gutters. If you can visibly identify where the low spot is, it is an indication that your gutter is damaged or it is getting worn out.
You should still be able to notice a dip in the gutters from the ground, so this is a safe job that you can do on your own, with their feet on the ground.
Check for Standing Water
Water follows the path of least resistance, so any amount of water in your gutters is a problem. Try to check the gutters immediately after rainfall so you can see the flow of the water.
This might force you to climb a ladder, so be careful. If you don’t feel comfortable doing this, you can have a local handyman or a gutter specialist from Clear & Clean Gutters of Corvallis check it out for you.
Inspect for Shingle Particles
Any tiny granules remaining in the gutters from your shingles are a sign that the gutters might not have enough slope, so the water can’t carry these heavier materials away. Grit or sludge inside of your gutters is common after having a new roof installed because it will tend to shed excess particles in the first few years.
You can climb up a ladder and take a look, or you might notice some of the particles flowing out of your gutters from 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 due to incorrect gutter pitch. If water is flowing the wrong way, know as “back pitch,” you will probably see water overflowing from the end cap. This can cause problems for your roof, gutters and surrounding landscaping.
To prevent the possibility of blockage, schedule gutter cleaning at least once a year or install gutter guards. If the gutters are clean but there are still signs of overflow, it’s one more indicator that there is a gutter pitch problem.
Professional Gutter Damage Repair
If your gutter pitch gets distorted, it can cause many problems for your home. All of the problems above can let you determine if your gutter pitch is off.
Regardless of whether your gutters were damaged or if they were installed poorly to begin with, they need to be re-pitched if you want to avoid significant home repairs, including siding damage, leaks and landscape damage.
Gutter Repair in Corvallis
The most affordable option will be repairing the existing gutters so the proper pitch is restored. If the rain gutters are in excellent condition and undamaged, this will be the route Clear & Clean Gutters of Corvallis recommends.
To re-establish gutter pitch, Clear & Clean Gutters of Corvallis will loosen the gutter, but they won’t need to take it completely 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 correct measurements.
Gutter Installation in Corvallis
If your gutters are severely damaged, or if they are starting to rust or wear down with age, Clear & Clean Gutters of Corvallis may recommend to replace them instead of 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 should set the gutters at the appropriate pitch. You can use the tips in this blog post to make sure the new installation was done the right way.