What is Gutter Pitch?
Rain gutters are fastened at a slight angle so water drains out rather than sitting stagnant. Gutters don’t look slanted because installation pros 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 horizontal gutter
This calculation tells your gutter installation technician right where to attach the downspout so that even heavier amounts of precipitation can flow unobstructed from your roof. The side of your home’s roof where the downspouts are is the side that should be lower.
Longer 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, which means that the middle of the roofline will be the highest point, and both downspouts should be lower than this center point.
Gutter Pitch Problems
If your gutters are installed incorrectly or if they are loose or bent at all, it can cause problems that can be expensive and complex to repair.
When your gutter pitch is wrong, it can cause water to back up in your gutters. Water is a typical problem around the home, as it can cause all of the following issues:
- Rain inside of the gutters can cause roof damage because of the standing water. When rain backs up in the gutters, water can seep under the shingles and cause harm to the fascia, sub-roofing and even leak inside your house.
- Standing rain water is one way mold and mildew can grow on areas of your roof, gutters or siding. Removing mold is a difficult task, especially when it appears on your roof. Mold is known for ruining organic materials (many of which are common in your home) and making people sick.
- The weight of pooling water inside your gutters can cause them to tear away from your home. The gutters can pull fasteners from the walls, destroying your vinyl or other exterior materials. 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 few things you can do:
Look for Hanging Spots
Like we said before, you shouldn’t be able to see the slope of your rain gutters. If you can visibly identify where the low spot is, it is a sign that your gutter is damaged or that it is getting worn out.
You should still be able to see a dip in the gutters from below, 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 naturally follows the path of least resistance, so any amount of water inside of your home’s gutters is a problem. Try to examine the gutters right 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 local handyman or a gutter specialist from Quick Clean Gutters do it for you.
Inspect for Shingle Particles
Any little granules left behind in the gutters from your shingles are a sign that the gutters might not have enough slope, so the water can’t carry these materials away. Grit or sludge in your gutters is more common after having a new roof installed because it will tend to lose a lot of excess granules in the first few 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 notice 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 because of incorrect gutter pitch. If water is flowing the wrong direction, called “back pitch,” you will probably see water overflowing at the end cap. This can cause damage to your roof, gutters and surrounding landscaping.
To remove 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 there is a gutter pitch problem.
Professional Gutter Damage Repair
If your gutter pitch is distorted, it can result in many problems for your house. All of the problems above can let you decide if your gutter pitch is not right.
No matter if your gutters were damaged or they were installed incorrectly in the first place, they need to be re-pitched in order to avoid major home repairs, including siding damage, leaks and landscape damage.
Gutter Repair in Kalamazoo
The most affordable option will be repairing your existing gutters so the pitch is restored. If the gutters are in good condition and undamaged, this will be the route Quick Clean Gutters encourages.
To re-establish gutter pitch, Quick Clean Gutters will loosen the gutter, but they won’t have to take it totally down. This lowers 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 Kalamazoo
If your rain gutters are permanently damaged, or if they are rusting or wearing down with age, Quick Clean Gutters may recommend that you replace them instead of re-pitching them. This can be more economical over time and time-saving.
If your gutters need to be replaced, they will come compete with new fasteners, hardware and downspouts. The installer should set the gutters at the appropriate pitch. You can reference our tips above to make sure the new installation was done correctly.