What is Gutter Pitch?

All gutters are set at a slight angle so water drains out instead of sitting stagnant. They don’t appear slanted because installation companies 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 your gutter installation technician where to place the downspout so that heavier amounts of rain can flow unobstructed from your roof. The side of your roof where the downspouts are is the side that should be lower.

Long sections of gutter, like across the front of a home, require a downspout on both sides. When this is the situation, the rain gutters will need to be pitched from the middle, meaning that the center of the roofline will be the absolute highest point, and both downspouts should be lower than this center point.

Gutter Pitch Problems

If your gutters are installed the wrong way or if they are loose or bent, it can cause problems that can be expensive and complex to repair.

When your gutter pitch is wrong, it can make water back up in your gutters. Water is a common problem around the home, as it can cause all of the issues below:

• Water inside of the gutters can cause roof damage due to the standing water. When it doesn’t flow from the gutters, water can get underneath the shingles and cause damage to the fascia, sub-roofing and even get inside your home.
• Standing rain water is one way mold and mildew can grow on sections of your roof, gutters or siding. Getting rid of mold is a challenging task, especially if it appears on your roof. Mold is known for ruining organic materials (many of which exist in your home) and even making people sick.
• The weight of pooling water inside your rain gutters can cause them to pull away from your home. The gutters can pull fasteners from the walls, damaging your vinyl or other exterior materials. It can also damage landscaping and windows.

Do You Have a Gutter Pitch Problem?

To ensure your gutters are properly pitched, here are a few things you can do:

Look for Hanging Spots

Like we said above, you shouldn’t be able to see the slope of your rain gutters. If you can noticeably tell where the low point is, it is a sign 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 you can do on your own, with both feet on the ground.

Check for Standing Water

Rain water follows the path of least resistance, so any amount of water in your home’s gutters is an issue. If possible, check the gutters right after rainfall so you can see the draining of the water.

This might require 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 TruClean Topeka Gutters do it for you.

Inspect for Shingle Particles

Any little granules remaining in the gutters from your roof shingles are a sign that the rain gutters might not have enough slope, so the water can’t carry these materials away. Seeing grit or sludge inside of your gutters is common after getting a new roof installed because it will tend to shed a lot of excess particles in the first couple of years.

You can climb up and take a look, or you might notice some of these particles making their way out of your gutters from the downspouts. If you see 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 because of incorrect gutter pitch. If rain water is flowing the wrong way, called “back pitch,” you will probably see water overflowing at the end cap. This can problems for your roof, gutters and nearby landscaping.

To remove 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 are still signs of overflow, it’s another sign that there is a gutter pitch problem.

Professional Gutter Damage Repair

If your gutter pitch is distorted, it can create many problems for your home. All of the issues above can let you determine if your gutter pitch is off.

Regardless of whether your rain gutters were damaged during a storm or if they were installed poorly in the first place, they need to be re-pitched if you want to prevent expensive home repairs, including damage to siding, leaks and landscape damage.

Gutter Repair in Topeka

The first option will be repairing the existing gutters so the pitch is restored. If the gutters are in excellent condition and undamaged, this will be the route TruClean Topeka Gutters encourages.

To correct gutter pitch, TruClean Topeka Gutters will loosen the gutter, but they won’t need to take it all the way down. This saves labor costs and time. Then the technician will measure and determine the proper pitch and reinstall the gutters, adjusting fasteners if necessary, to fit the correct measurements.

Gutter Installation in Topeka

If your gutters are severely damaged, or if they are rusting or wearing down with age, TruClean Topeka Gutters 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 have to be replaced, they will come compete with new fasteners, hardware and downspouts. The installer will set the gutters at the correct pitch. You can reference the tips in this blog post to make sure the new installation was done the right way.