What is Gutter Pitch?
All gutters are fastened at a slight angle so that water flows out of them instead of remaining stagnant. They don’t appear slanted because installation pros know what they’re doing, but we assure you they are.
Gutters should have a specific 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 fasten the downspout so that heavier amounts of precipitation can flow smoothly from your roof. The side of your roof where the downspouts are is the side that should be the lower end.
Long areas of gutter, like across the front of a house, may require a downspout on each side. When this is happening, the gutters will need to be pitched from the middle, meaning that the center 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 the wrong way or if they have become loose or bent at all, it can create problems that might be expensive and difficult to fix.
When your gutter pitch is wrong, it can make water back up in your gutter channels. Water is a typical problem around the home, as it can lead to all of the following issues:
- Rain inside of the gutters can lead to roof damage due to the standing water. When water 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 mildew and mold can grow on areas of your roof, gutters or siding. Getting rid of 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 even making people sick.
- The weight of standing water inside your rain gutters can lead them to tear away from your home. The gutters can pull fasteners from the walls, damaging your vinyl or other exterior material. It can also damage landscaping and windows.
Do You Have a Gutter Pitch Problem?
To be confident your gutters are correctly pitched, here are a few things you can check:
Look for Hanging Spots
As we mentioned before, you shouldn’t be able to see the slope of your gutters. If you can noticeably identify where the low spot is, this is an indication that your gutter is damaged or that it is getting worn out.
You should still 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 an issue. Try to inspect the gutters immediately after rainfall so you can see the flow of the water.
This may force 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 Cary Gutter Service check it out for you.
Inspect for Shingle Particles
Any small granules remaining in the gutters from your shingles means the rain gutters might not have enough pitch, so the water can’t carry these heavier materials away. Grit or sludge inside of your gutters is common after getting a new roof installed because it will tend to shed excess particles in the first couple of years.
You can climb up a ladder and look, or you might see some of the particles making their way out of your gutters from the downspouts. If you see a small amount in these areas, chances are there is more that can’t make its way out.
Why is There Overflow?
Gutter overflow is usually caused by a blockage, but it can also be due to incorrect gutter pitch. If water is flowing the wrong way, called “back pitch,” you will see water overflowing from the end cap. This can cause problems for your roof, gutters and nearby landscaping.
To prevent 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 one more indicator that your gutter pitch may be wrong.
Professional Gutter Damage Repair
When your gutter pitch is incorrect, it can cause a lot of problems for your home. All of the issues above can let you determine if your gutter pitch is off.
No matter if your rain gutters were damaged during a storm or if they were installed incorrectly in the first place, they need to be re-pitched if you want to prevent major home repairs, including siding damage, leaks and landscape damage.
Gutter Repair in Cary
The first option will be repairing your existing gutters so the pitch is restored. If the gutters are in excellent condition and undamaged, this should be the route Cary Gutter Service encourages.
To restore gutter pitch, Cary Gutter Service will loosen the gutter, but they won’t need to take it all the way down. This lowers labor costs and time. Then the technician will measure and determine the correct pitch and reinstall the gutters, moving fasteners if necessary, to fit the specific measurements.
Gutter Installation in Cary
If your rain gutters are severely damaged, or if they are starting to rust or wear down with age, Cary Gutter Service may recommend to replace them rather than re-pitching them. This can be more economical in the long run and time-saving.
If your gutters have to be replaced, they will come compete with new fasteners, hardware and downspouts. The installer should set the gutters at the correct pitch. You can reference our tips in this blog post to make sure the new installation was done correctly.