What is Gutter Pitch?

All gutters are installed at a slight angle so water flows out of them instead of sitting stagnant. Gutters don’t appear slanted because installation pros know what they’re doing, but we assure you they are.

Gutters have an angled 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 attach the downspout so that even heavy amounts of precipitation can flow smoothly from your roof. The side of your roof where the downspouts are located is the side that should be lower.

Longer areas 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, which means that the center of the roofline will be the absolute highest point, and both of the downspouts should be lower than this center point.

Gutter Pitch Problems

If gutters are installed the wrong way or if they are loose or bent, it can lead to problems that might be costly and complex to repair.

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

• Water in the gutters can lead to roof damage due to the standing water. When it backs up in the gutters, water can seep under the shingles and cause harm to the fascia, sub-roofing and even leak inside your home.
• Standing water is one way mildew and mold can grow on areas of your roof, gutters or siding. Getting rid of mold is a difficult project, especially if it appears on your roof. Mold is known for ruining organic materials (many of which exist in your home) and making people sick.
• The weight of blocked water inside your gutters can cause them to tear away from your house. The gutters can pull fasteners from the walls, destroying your vinyl or other exterior materials. It can also ruin landscaping and windows.

Do You Have a Gutter Pitch Problem?

To ensure your gutters are correctly pitched, here are a some of the things you can check:

Look for Hanging Spots

Like we mentioned before, you shouldn’t be able to notice the slope of your rain gutters. If you can visibly identify 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 notice a dip in the gutters from below, so this is a safe job that homeowners can do on their own, with both feet on the ground.

Check for Standing Water

Rain water naturally follows the path of least resistance, so any amount of water inside of your gutters is a problem. If possible, inspect the gutters right after rainfall so you can see the flow of the water.

This might force you to climb a ladder, so exercise caution. If you aren’t comfortable doing this, you can have a handyman or a gutter specialist from True Clean Gutters do it for you.

Inspect for Shingle Particles

Any small granules remaining in the gutters from your shingles means the gutters might not have enough slope, so the water can’t carry these heavier materials away. Seeing grit or sludge inside of your gutters is more common after having a new roof installed because it will tend to lose excess particles in the first few years.

You can climb up a ladder and look, or you might see some of the particles flowing out of your gutters from the downspouts. If you see a little 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 water is flowing in the wrong direction, know as “back pitch,” you will probably see water overflowing from the end cap. This can cause problems for your roof, gutters and nearby landscaping.

To eliminate the possibility of blockage, schedule gutter cleaning at least once a year or install gutter guards. If the gutters are clean but there are still signs of overflow, it’s one more indicator that your gutter pitch may be wrong.

Professional Gutter Damage Repair

When your gutter pitch is incorrect, it can result in many problems for your home. All of the problems above can let you determine if your gutter pitch is wrong.

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

Gutter Repair in Troy

The first option will be repairing your existing gutters so the pitch is restored. If the gutters are in excellent condition and undamaged, this should be the route True Clean Gutters recommends.

To restore gutter pitch, True Clean Gutters will loosen the gutter, but they won’t have to take it all the way down. This lowers labor costs and time. Then the technician will measure and determine the correct pitch and reinstall the gutters, moving fasteners if necessary, to fit the correct measurements.

Gutter Installation in Troy

If your gutters are severely damaged, or if they are starting to rust or wear down with age, True Clean Gutters may recommend to replace them rather than re-pitching them. This will be more economical over time and time-saving.

If your gutters have to be replaced, they will include new fasteners, hardware and downspouts. The installer will set the gutters at the proper pitch. You can use the tips in this blog post to make sure the new installation is done the right way.