Gutters are an often overlooked but essential component of any home.
They collect water and carry it away from the roof. This prevents serious issues like foundation and siding damage, or even flooding.
Noticing water drops on the bottom or underside of your gutter is cause for concern.
If you notice water drops on the bottom of your gutter, find out what’s causing the problem. Then, you can decide on the best way to fix it. All the information you need is in this guide.
Water drops on the bottom of your gutter usually means a leak, overflow, or structural sagging. Minor leaks and overflows may be fixable with cleaning or some sealant. Sloping or major damage may need rehanging or replacing.
Causes Of Water Drops On Bottom Of Gutter
There are 3 main reasons why water drops might be visible on the bottom of your gutter: leaking, clogging, and sagging.
1. Leaking
The most common reason we have seen for water drops on the bottom of a gutter is leaking. But, there are a few different causes of leaking gutters. The cause of the leak will determine the best fix.
Holes Or Cracks
If your gutter has holes or cracks in it, this could lead to leaks. This causes water drops on the underside of the gutter.
We have seen this many times before. Luckily, if you stop it quickly and the damage is minor, it’s an easy fix.
Drops of water will usually be the first sign of a leak due to damage. The leak will get worse as time goes on. That’s why you must take action quickly.
Weak Joints And Seals
If the joints or seals that hold your gutter together are weak or damaged, water drops will be able to get through. They may be visible on the bottom of the gutter.
Fasteners Loosening
Fasteners that have become loose over time may also be the culprit when it comes to leaking gutters.
Inspect the fasteners that connect your gutter to the fascia boards. You’ll notice that screws or nails go straight through the gutter. If they get loose, water will have space to get through, resulting in a leak.
Again, the leak may be small to begin with, but can lead to worse issues such as rotting boards.
2. Clogging
Water may be overflowing from your gutter due to blockages or clogging. This could be the reason for water droplets on the bottom of your gutter.
Bear in mind that if your downspout is clogged, you might not be able to see the blockage and won’t be able to remove it by hand.
3. Sagging
Loose fasteners don’t always result in a direct leak from around the nails or screws. Sometimes, they cause the gutters to sag. This prevents the structure from holding all the water properly.
What To Do About Water Drops On Bottom Of Gutter
1. Clean Gutter Regularly
Clogged gutters are the most common cause of water drops forming on the bottom. The best way to prevent and fix the problem is to clean out your gutter.
Blockages are usually caused by collections of leaves, mud, and other debris, which can usually be removed by hand. Here’s how to clear out your gutter.
You can usually flush your downspout using the methods in the video linked above. However, in case of a serious blockage in your downspout, you might need to fully disconnect it in order to clean it.
2. Apply Caulk Or Sealant To Holes And Cracks
Is the cause of water drops on the bottom of your gutter is a hole or a crack? In that case, you’ll need to look at the size of the damage to decide how to fix it.
For smaller holes, applying caulk or sealant can help to keep water inside the gutter. For larger holes or cracks, see option 4 below.
3. Tighten Or Replace Your Fasteners
As we mentioned earlier, loose fasteners can cause both leaking and sloping.
If loose fasteners are causing a minor leak or slope, you should be able to fix the problem simply by tightening the fasteners.
The best case scenario is that you can use a screwdriver or drill to drive the fastener back into the fascia board.
This way, there’s no space for water to leak out. Applying sealant around the fastening can also work for smaller leaks. You can also replace your existing fastener with a gutter screw.
Major sagging is not quick or easy to fix, which leads us on to our next solution.
4. Consider Replacing Or Rehanging Gutter Sections
If there is too much damage to your gutter, you’re going to have to rehang or outright replace sections of your gutter. A large hole or lots of sagging are examples of this.
We know this is not something you want to do. Sometimes, though, it’s the only way to stop water drops turning into a major problem.
Even though it seems like a big task and costs money, it’s better than letting bigger issues develop.
To replace your gutter, you’ll first need to remove the existing guttering, or the section of it that is damaged.
That involves removing screws and fasteners with either a drill or screwdriver. You’ll then need to install the new length(s) of guttering.
Removing just one section of guttering means you’ll need to be careful not to damage the rest of the gutter.
You will first need to remove the spikes from the gutter. Also, remove the spikes from the drip edge. This instructional video demonstrates the best method.
To remove one damaged section of your guttering, make sure that your new gutter sections line up with the rest.
Final Thoughts
A few water drops on the bottom of your gutter might not seem worrying. But, the water escaping the gutter system can cause major problems.
Water on the bottom of your gutter happens because of clogging, sagging, or leaking. Leaks can be due to cracks, holes, loose fasteners, or weak joints.
You might be able to solve the issue by cleaning out your gutter. You can also apply sealant, or tightening the fastenings. Sometimes, you have to rehang or replace sections of the gutter.
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