What’s the miter with your gutters? Whether you’re looking at your overflowing fall and winter gutters or you’re planning ahead during the summer months, you may find that leaky miters are causing some of your gutter woes. Here’s how to prevent these annoying leaks in your gutters.

Signs of a Leaky Miter

When you’re searching for leaks at the places where your gutters join, there are some obvious signs and some that are much less obvious. When it’s pouring rain, you can see leaky areas just by standing underneath your gutters. Depending on where the leak occurs, you may notice water, algae, or other stains on the siding as well.

Inspecting Your Gutters

To conduct an inspection on your gutters, you’ll need to clean them first. Remove any debris from your gutters, then brush them gently to clean the inside and outside of the gutter. If you’re cleaning out your gutters in the summer or the fall and it’s not raining at the time, you can spot potential leaks in areas where debris catches between the two pieces of the gutter. To confirm the potential leak, you can run water through these areas to determine whether they are leaking.

Sealing Your Gutters

If you find a leak, you’ll want to repair it before it causes damage to your home. To do this, clean the area to expose the joint. Gently move the two pieces of gutter away from each other. Clean the joint and remove the old caulking. Clean off rust with a wire brush. Now, use a caulking gun and apply exterior-grade polyurethane caulk to the inner part or “downhill” section of the gutter. Lower the uphill section of gutter onto the caulking, press them together, and ensure that you replace any screws that hold the gutters together.

Avoiding Future Leaks

When you’re working on your gutters, you want to repair them but you also want to stop future leaks. Debris that clogs your gutters can lead to water backups that threaten your roof. Animals may nest in your gutters, adding weight and causing structural damage. When water collects in your gutters, it can freeze in the colder months. Over time, debris and freeze-thaw processes can lead to gutter leaks. When leaks occur, debris accumulation can make it harder to find the source of the problem. Keep your gutters clean by removing debris regularly or by installing gutter systems that cover your gutters, preventing debris from accumulating.

When you’re trying to maintain a gutter system that flows freely and has no leaks, visit Harry Helmet. Our Gutter Helmet^® system greatly reduces debris accumulation in your gutters, making it easier to avoid leaks and manage leaks when they occur. Contact us today to see how we can make your home maintenance simpler.

Written by Del Thebaud