Seamless gutters are less likely to develop leaks since they have few seams to fail, but they aren't immune to the possibility of dripping water. Fortunately, most seamless gutter leaks and drips are easily fixed.
1. Drip edge Issues
Water may run off the drip edge of the roof and behind the gutter trough, causing it to leak down the fascia boards on the eaves and along the siding. Readjusting the gutters so they better align under the drip edge is one way to repair the issue, but a gutter apron may be more effective. This is a piece of flashing that attaches to the drip edge and goes into the gutter trough, eliminating the space between the gutter and roof.
2. Loose Hangers
Gutter hangers can come loose over time, and when they do the troughs won't properly align with the roof or they may begin to slant slightly, both of which can lead to overflows. Loose hangers can also compromise the slope of a gutter trough so that water doesn't flow to the downspout and instead overflows. Replacing hangers solves the problem.
3. Joint Failure
Seamless gutters do have a few joint seams. These are located on either side of a downspout connection. Over time, these seams may fail and leaks can occur. Covering the seam with a slip joint guttering piece and then caulking it in place with waterproof silicone will reseal the joint and prevent future leaks. Just make sure to have this work done when the gutter is clean and dry.
4. Shallow Gutters
Sometimes gutter troughs are simply too shallow for the amount of rain that flows into them. This is a common issue on steeply sloped roofs and in areas that get heavy rain in short amounts of time. You can have deeper trough gutters installed to prevent overflows. Another option is to install additional downspouts to help speed up the movement of the water out of the troughs.
5. Valley Overflow
Where a roof valley meets a gutter there will be a spot with heavier water flows into the trough, much like a river rushing down a canyon. Sometimes gutters overflow and leak over the edge at this point due to the rush of draining water. A diverter is a piece of flashing that matches the color of your gutter. It is attached to the outside gutter wall where it effectively forms a dam so water doesn't rush over the top of the gutters. These are installed in areas where valley overflow occurs.
Contact a residential gutter repair service if you need more help with fixing your overflowing gutters.
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