Your gutters are an important part of your home. When they work properly, you will see them remove rain off the roof and move it to another part of the yard, rather than dropping it off right next to the foundation of the home or letting it drip into the basement. But there are times when you may look up and notice there is rainwater running from behind the gutters instead of through them. There are different reasons why rainwater may run behind the gutters in this manner.
You may find rainwater running behind your gutters because the gutters are clogged, the gutters have a clog inside of them, or the screws are no longer holding the gutters to your house very well. Cleaning the gutters and doing proper maintenance will help to fix these issues and can help the rainwater go through the gutters properly.
Let’s take a closer look at why your gutters may not be doing their job well and some of the simple steps that you can use to help fix these issues too.
Why Rain Water Running Behind Gutters
There are different reasons why you may notice rainwater is running behind the gutters on your home. Finding the root cause and getting it fixed will help to prevent any issues with rain draining into your home. Some of the most common reasons why you will find rainwater running behind gutters includes:
The Gutters are Clogged
The most common reason why your gutters are overflowing is that they are clogged. It is easy for things to get into the gutters and just sit there. They will not get pushed down with the rain, so they stick there, making it impossible for the water to flow through either. Over time, the water is going to splash over the edges and may start to go behind the gutters, making a mess everywhere. You will need to unclog the drains to help fix this problem.
It is important to get the gutters checked out and cleaned often. If you can, it is possible to get a ladder and do the work yourself. Most homeowners do not want to get up high on a ladder or do not have the time to get the work done. In this case, they can consider hiring a professional to help.
The Gutters are Not Screwed in Properly
Over time, it is common for your gutters to come a little loose from the house. While this is normal, it is possible that the screws will get really loose and your gutters will not stay put on the home any longer. It is important to check the screws and see if they come loose or are rusting through. When this happens, it is time to get them tightened up again or put in new screws to help keep it in place.
There Is a Crack in the Gutter
Sometimes the issue may be as simple as a crack in the gutter somewhere. If there is a crack to the back of the gutter, this can be a problem with keeping the water inside long enough to get it down the drain. The larger the crack, the harder this issue is to stop and the more you may notice water running behind the gutters when it is raining. Inspect the gutters a few times a year to make sure there are no cracks available.
How to Fix Rain Water Running Behind Gutters?
Once you figure out what is causing the rain water to run behind your gutters, it is time to get to work and have it all fixed. Some of the things that you can do to help fix rain water running behind the gutters include:
Clean Out the Gutter
If you think the problem with the gutters is that they are clogged from all of the debris and other stuff, then it is time to get them cleaned out. You can either do the cleaning on your own or hire a professional to get it done. Without cleaning up the rubbish and leaves that gets into the gutters, the problem will just get worse and you will find that the water will continue to fall behind the gutters.
Schedule a time two or three times a year to help clean out the gutters and get them looking good. If there is a specific spot where the water seems to fall over more than others, then you need to get that area first. Consider working on the whole house though to make sure that the water is not able to leak over too bad or that nothing gets stuck later.
Consider Gutter Guards
Your gutters are likely to get clogged up often. It is not uncommon for leaves and other debris to fall inside of the gutters and get stuck there. Unless you are climbing up on the roof often or hiring a professional to do it for you, then the gutters are likely to get clogged pretty quickly.
Cleaning out the gutters can take a lot of time or is expensive if you have someone else who takes it over for you. A better option that will save you a lot of money while preventing the gutters from getting clogged are gutter guards. The water will be able to get in and drain out properly, but all of the debris will stay out.
Put the Screws in Tighter or Replace Them
When looking at the gutters, you may notice that the screws are not put in properly. This can cause the gutters to move a little bit from the roof. Even a little bit of space may be enough to make the water drip off the roof and go into the side behind them. The good news is that this is a relatively simple process to fix.
If you feel that this is the issue with your gutters and the rain falling behind them, get up on the roof and check out the screws. If the screws are still in good shape, you can just screw them back in and call it good. When the screws look worn out and rusted though, it may be better to replace them with some new ones.
Look at New Gutters
If the problem with rain water running behind gutters is because your gutters have a crack in them, then it is time to look at replacing at least a part of the gutter. It is hard to fix the crack. You may be able to put a few adhesives on to help, but these are temporary fixes that will not provide you with the long-term results that you want.
When the crack is small, you may want to consider just replacing that part of the gutter. This may save money and will work if the gutters are divided into smaller parts when they were put up (this will not work on seamless gutters for example). If it has been a long time since the gutters were put up, then. You may want to look at replacing all of the gutters before more of them start to crack.
Taking Good Care of Your Gutters
Your gutters are an important part of your home. They will help to remove water off the roof and push it away from the foundation of your home. When they work properly, your home will stay safe and nothing will drip down by the side of your home.
There are times when the gutters are not able to work as well as they should and you may find rain water running behind gutters rather than out them. When this happens, consider what is the root cause of the problem from the list above and then find a way to get it fixed to keep your home safe and secure from the rain.
