What is Gutter Pitch?
Gutters are installed at a slight angle so that water flows out of them instead of remaining stagnant. They don’t look slanted because installation companies know what they’re doing, but 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 a gutter installer right where to place the downspout so that even heavier amounts of rain 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, require a downspout on each side. When this is happening, the gutters will be pitched from the middle, which means that the middle of the roofline will be the absolute highest point, and both of the downspouts need to be lower than this middle point.
Gutter Pitch Problems
If your gutters are installed the wrong way or if they are loose or bent at all, it can cause problems that might be costly and complex to repair.
When there is a gutter pitch problem, it can cause water to back up in your gutters. Water is a typical problem around the house, as it can result in all of the following issues:
- Rain inside of the gutters can cause roof damage due to the standing water. When water backs up in the gutters, water can seep under the shingles and cause damage 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. Getting rid of mold is a difficult task, especially when it grows on your roof. Mold is known for ruining organic materials (many of which are common in your house) and making people feel ill.
- The weight of standing water inside your rain gutters can cause them to tear away from your roof. The gutters can pull fasteners from the siding, damaging your vinyl or other exterior material. It can also ruin 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
Like we said before, you shouldn’t be able to see the slope of your gutters. If you can noticeably tell where the low spot is, it is an indication that your gutter is damaged or that it is getting old.
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. If possible, examine the gutters right after rainfall so you can see the draining of the water.
This could 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 Eden Prairie Gutters check it out for you.
Inspect for Shingle Particles
Any tiny granules remaining in the gutters from your roof shingles are a sign that the rain gutters might not have enough pitch, so the water can’t carry these heavier materials away. Grit or sludge in your gutters is more common after getting a new roof installed because it will tend to shed a lot of excess particles in the first couple of years.
You can climb up and look, or you might notice some of these particles flowing out of your gutters from the downspouts. If you notice a little in these areas, chances are there is more that is unable to 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, know as “back pitch,” you will probably see water overflowing at the end cap. This can damage to 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 is still overflow, it’s one more sign that your gutter pitch may be wrong.
Professional Gutter Damage Repair
When your gutter pitch gets incorrect, it can cause a lot of problems for your house. All of the issues above can let you know that your gutter pitch is off.
No matter if your gutters were damaged or they were installed incorrectly 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 Eden Prairie
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 Eden Prairie Gutters recommends.
To restore gutter pitch, Eden Prairie Gutters will loosen the gutter, but they won’t have to take it completely down. This saves labor costs and time. Then the technician will measure and calculate the proper pitch and reinstall the gutters, relocating fasteners if necessary, to fit the correct measurements.
Gutter Installation in Eden Prairie
If your rain gutters are severely damaged, or if they are starting to rust or wear down with age, Eden Prairie Gutters may recommend to replace them rather than re-pitching them. This will 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 will set the gutters at the appropriate pitch. You can reference the tips in this blog post to ensure the new installation was done correctly.