What is Gutter Pitch?
Rain gutters are installed at a slight angle so water flows out of them instead of remaining stagnant. Gutters don’t appear slanted because installation pros know exactly 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 calculation tells a gutter installer right where to place the downspout so that even heavy amounts of rain can flow unobstructed from your roof. The side of your home’s roof where the downspouts are located is the side that should be the lower end.
Longer sections of gutter, like across the front of a house, may require a downspout on each side. When this is the case, the rain gutters will be pitched from the middle, meaning that the center of the roofline will be the highest point, and both of the downspouts need to be lower than this center point.
Gutter Pitch Problems
If gutters are installed incorrectly or if they are loose or bent at all, it can lead to problems that might be costly and complex to fix.
When there is something wrong with your gutter pitch, it can make water back up in your gutters. Water is a common problem around the home, as it can result in all of the following issues:
- Rain inside of the gutters can cause roof damage because of the standing water. When water 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 water is one way mold and mildew can grow on sections of your roof, gutters or siding. Getting rid of mold is a challenging project, especially when it appears on your roof. Mold is known for ruining organic materials (many of which exist in your house) and even making people sick.
- The weight of pooling water inside your rain gutters can lead them to pull away from your house. The gutters can pull fasteners from the siding, damaging your vinyl or other exterior materials. It can also damage surrounding landscaping and windows.
Do You Have a Gutter Pitch Problem?
To make sure your gutters are correctly pitched, here are a some of the things you can check:
Look for Hanging Spots
Like we said above, you shouldn’t be able to notice the slope of your gutters. If you can noticeably identify where the low spot is, this is an indication that your gutter is damaged or that it is getting old.
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 both feet on the ground.
Check for Standing Water
Water follows the path of least resistance, so any amount of water inside of your home’s gutters is an issue. If possible, examine the gutters right after rainfall so you can see the draining of the water.
This may force you to climb a ladder, so exercise caution. If you don’t feel comfortable doing this, you can have a handyman or a gutter specialist from Fishers Gutters & More! do it for you.
Inspect for Shingle Particles
Any tiny granules remaining in the gutters from your roof shingles means the gutters may not have enough slope, so the water can’t carry these materials out. Grit or sludge in your gutters is more common after having a new roof installed because it will tend to lose excess granules in the first few years.
You can climb up and look, or you may see some of these particles making their way out of your gutters from the downspouts. If you notice a small amount in these areas, there is a good chance there is more that can’t make its way out.
Why is There Overflow?
Gutter overflow is typically caused by a blockage, but it can also be the result of incorrect gutter pitch. If rain water is flowing in the wrong direction, called “back pitch,” you will see water overflowing at the end cap. This can problems for your roof, gutters and nearby landscaping.
To prevent the possibility of 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 another indicator that your gutter pitch may be wrong.
Professional Gutter Damage Repair
When your gutter pitch is incorrect, it can cause several problems for your home. All of the issues above can let you decide if your gutter pitch is wrong.
No matter if your rain gutters were damaged during a storm or they were installed poorly in the first place, they need to be re-pitched if you want to prevent major home repairs, including siding damage, leaks and landscape damage.
Gutter Repair in Fishers
The first option will be repairing your existing gutters so the proper pitch is restored. If the gutters are in good condition and undamaged, this should be the route Fishers Gutters & More! recommends.
To restore gutter pitch, Fishers Gutters & More! 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 determine the correct pitch and reinstall the gutters, adjusting fasteners if necessary, to fit the specific measurements.
Gutter Installation in Fishers
If your rain gutters are permanently damaged, or if they are rusting or wearing down with age, Fishers Gutters & More! may recommend that you replace them rather than re-pitching them. This can 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 will set the gutters at the proper pitch. You can reference our tips in this blog post to make sure the new installation is done the right way.