What is Gutter Pitch?
Rain gutters are installed at a slight angle so that water flows out rather than sitting stagnant. They don’t look slanted because installation companies know exactly what they’re doing, but they are.
Gutters have an angled slope based on this formula:
¼ of an inch of drop per 10 feet of gutter
This formula tells your gutter installation technician 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.
Longer areas of gutter, like across the front of a home, require a downspout on each side. When this is the situation, the gutters will 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 middle point.
Gutter Pitch Problems
If your gutters are installed the wrong way or if they are loose or bent at all, it can create problems that might be expensive and complex to fix.
When there is a gutter pitch problem, it can cause water to back up in your gutter channels. Water is a typical problem around the house, as it can lead to all of the issues below:
- Water inside of the gutters can cause roof damage due to the standing water. When rain backs up in the gutters, water can get underneath 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 sections of your roof, gutters or siding. Removing mold is a very hard project, especially if it grows on your roof. Mold is known for ruining organic materials (many of which exist in your home) and even making people feel ill.
- The weight of pooling water inside your rain gutters can lead them to pull away from your roof. The gutters can tear out fasteners from the walls, destroying your vinyl or other exterior materials. It can also ruin surrounding landscaping and windows.
Do You Have a Gutter Pitch Problem?
To be confident 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 rain gutters. If you can visibly tell where the low spot is, it is an indication that your gutter is damaged or it is getting worn out.
You should still be able to notice a dip in the gutters from the ground, so this is a safe job that you can do on your 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 gutters is an issue. If possible, examine the gutters right after rainfall so you can see the flow of the water.
This may force you to climb a ladder, so be careful. If you don’t feel comfortable doing this, you can have a handyman or a gutter specialist from Just Gutters Inc. do it for you.
Inspect for Shingle Particles
Any small granules remaining in the gutters from your shingles are a sign that the gutters may not have enough pitch, so the water can’t carry these heavier materials out. Grit or sludge inside of your gutters is more common after getting a new roof installed because it will tend to lose a lot of excess particles in the first few years.
You can climb up and look, or you may 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 rain water is flowing the wrong way, called “back pitch,” you will probably see water overflowing from the end cap. This can problems for your roof, gutters and landscaping.
To eliminate 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 are still signs of overflow, it’s one more indicator that there is a gutter pitch problem.
Professional Gutter Damage Repair
When your gutter pitch gets distorted, it can result in several problems for your house. All of the problems above can let you determine if 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 in order to prevent major home repairs, including siding damage, leaks and landscape damage.
Gutter Repair in Edina
The first option will be repairing the existing gutters so the correct pitch is restored. If the rain gutters are in prime condition and undamaged, this should be the route Just Gutters Inc. recommends.
To correct gutter pitch, Just Gutters Inc. will loosen the gutter, but they won’t need to take it totally down. This lowers labor costs and time. Then the technician will measure and calculate the correct pitch and reinstall the gutters, moving fasteners if necessary, to fit the specific measurements.
Gutter Installation in Edina
If your gutters are permanently damaged, or if they are rusting or wearing down with age, Just Gutters Inc. 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 need to be replaced, they will include 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.