Gutters are an significant part of your home: They direct water away from your home’s exterior walls, windows, doors, & foundation, preventing water from making its way inside. Although cleaning your gutters several times a year will enhance the longevity of your system, most gutters will need to be repaired or replaced eventually to assist protect your home.

Look for these five signs to determine when its time to replace your home’s gutter system:

1. Cracks or splits of any kind

While small cracks in your gutters may not seem like a huge issue, small cracks will eventually turn into huge ones & it may happen sooner than you think. If you allow cracks to remain without, water can not only damage gutters further, it can damage the fascia boards behind the gutters, the shingles above the gutter & the foundation below.

2. Paint peeling on or around your gutters and/or flecks of orange

The paint on your gutter is designed to withstand the typical wear & tear throughout the seasons. Unless your gutters are extremely old, peeling paint or orange flecks from the beginning stages of rust are an indicator that water is present on a continuous basis. This could indicate water is not being removed by the gutter or that cracks or other damage may be present.

3. Pools of water or signs of mildew around your home’s foundation

Gutters are designed with the purpose of keeping water flowing away from your home’s foundation. If you notice pools of water or mildew near the foundation, it can indicate that the gutters are not working as intended. This could be caused by something as simple as a clog or by something as complex as a defect in the gutter system. Water can easily damage the foundation, leading to costly, time-consuming repairs.

4. Water damage or water marks directly beneath the gutters

Check your gutters at least once a year on a day that’s relatively sunny & free from rain. Water damage or marks underneath the gutter indicate that water is escaping the gutter. This type of water intrusion can damage your soffit & fascia board.

5. Gutters sag or have begun to pull away from the house

This is one of the easiest ways to tell you need gutter repairs or gutter replacement because you don’t need to be on a ladder to notice it. Gutters should never sag or pull away from the home. This can indicate that the gutters are full of water & pulling away from the house due to the weight. A full gutter means that the gutter system may not be appropriate for the home, its draining improperly or debris is causing blockage.