Gutters are not the most obvious or visible feature in your home — in fact, for many people, gutters are barely ever thought of at all, and that is the way it should be. If you are thinking about your gutters, chances are it's because they are not performing right, as they should just be quietly working along in the background, with no fuss or attention. However, many people still are not sure when they need to bite the bullet and initiate the process of a new gutter installation. Here are a few signs that your current gutters are not up to par and need to be replaced as soon as possible.
Sagging
Your gutter needs to be as straight as the day it was built to ensure that the flow of water when it rains is precise and directed away from the walls of your home. If the gutter is sagging, that can lead to water spilling over the sides, or worse yet, the gutters actually breaking at some point in the near future. That would be catastrophic and should be avoided at all costs, especially with winter coming up and the chance for more weight due to snow and ice. If your gutter is sagging already, you need to get a new gutter now.
Plant Growth
If you can visibly see small plants starting to grow out of your home's gutters, then you might think that is a nice feature and quite pretty, but that is really not a good sign. That indicates that there is a very severe build-up of material in your gutter to the point where it is no longer even functional, as the water has not washed these plants away. If you see any kind of growth, whether it be a few little green leaves poking over the edge or some kind of moss or really anything, then do not hesitate, act now.
Stained Facade
If the front or sides of your home are stained and do not look as clean as they did when you moved in, chances are it is because your gutter is leaking somewhere along the line. If you can't hear this leak happening when it rains, then the best way to identify where it could be is simply to look for visible clues on your wall and then track that up to the overhanging point on the gutter. If your exterior wall is stained, this needs to be addressed before mildew or mold can grow. Your gutter needs to be torn down, and a new gutter installation put in place now, before it gets worse.