How to Stop Gutter Leaks

Gutters help to drain water away from your home to prevent flooding.

Gutters help drain rain water down from the roof of your house through the downspout and away from your home to help prevent damage from occurring. Left alone without proper maintenance and care, gutters can become clogged or detached from the house, resulting in leaks. The leaks are typically located on gutter pieces located at the back. If a leaky gutter is not fixed promptly, it can cause flood damage to your home.

Things You'll Need

• Ladder
• Gutter screws
• Ferrule
• Drill
• Gutter scoop
• Small brush
• Silicone-rubber caulking compound
• Caulk gun
• Utility knife
• Roofing cement
• Putty knife
• Sheet metal

Instructions

1. Place a ladder beneath the gutter leak. Carefully climb up the ladder and locate the leak on the inside of your gutter. Examine the gutter for sagging. Remove all hangers securing the gutter in place. Repeat this process for the entire length of the gutter.

2. Stick a gutter screw in the hole where the hangers were located. Place a ferrule over the top of the gutter screw. Take a drill and use it to drive the screw through the fascia. Repeat this for the entire gutter.

3. Remove leaves, tree branches and other debris from the rain gutter. Place a bead of silicone-rubber caulking on the seam of the gutter.

4. Use roofing cement to patch up all the small holes located at the back of the gutter. Spread a generous amount of the cement on the hole using a putty knife.

5. Spread some of the roofing cement over a piece of sheet metal using the putty knife. Apply the sheet metal to the gutter over the larger holes. Apply a second coat of cement on top of the sheet metal to secure it in place.

References

• HomeTips.Com: Rain Gutters Leak; Don Vandervort