Easy DIY Tips to Repair Leaky Gutters

All Aluminum Gutters

531 Sunrise Highway, West Babylon, New York 11704

(631) 816-2498

Leaky rain gutters can be a real drag, and if left untreated they can potentially lead to serious water damage to your home and its foundation.  Have you noticed leaking, sagging or overflowing gutters lately?  If you need a quick fix before the professional arrives, try these simple do-it-yourself tips to get your gutters back on track.

Give your gutters a facelift:  Sagging gutters are common, especially after a heavy rain or snow season.  As you begin your spring cleaning, make sure to check your gutters for signs of standing water or water marks along the inside of the gutters.  When gutters sag they lose the ability to drain water properly, which only leads to more sagging!  Your best bet is to adjust or change out the old gutter hangers for new ones.

Bursting at the seams: Usually where there is a leak, there is an issue with the gutter joints between sections.  After identifying the culprit, first clean out any stagnant water and allow the gutter system to dry completely.  Then, clean off the delinquent seam and seal it with with silicone-rubber caulking compound.  Be sure to caulk both the inside and the outside of the seam, to ensure the best possible seal.

Holes in your hardware: If your seams are intact, you may find that there is a hole in the gutter that is causing the leak.  If the hole is small enough, try patching it with roofing cement and a putty knife.  If roofing cement if not enough to patch a larger hole, try covering a base layer of roofing cement with a sheet-metal patch, and adding a second layer of cement on top.

Overflowing from the elbows: If left unattended, overflowing gutters can lead to serious structural damage. In most cases, the presence of an overflow means a clogged gutter or downspout.  (Sagging can also lead to overflow, so don’t forget that facelift!)  Many times downspouts will spring loose due to clogging in the elbows of the gutter system.  If this occurs, be sure to remove the section completely and clear it of any leaves or debris that might be causing the blockage.  Then refasten the downspout to its adjoining sections.

So, you’ve tried it all and still can’t get your gutters in tip-top shape?  Visit us on our website or call us at 631-816-2498 today, and let All Aluminum Gutters solve your gutter woes! Serving Long Island, Queens, the Bronx, and Westchester for 30 years, there’s no gutter problem that we can’t handle.