What is Gutter Pitch?

All gutters are installed at a slight angle so that water drains out of them rather than sitting stagnant. Gutters don’t look slanted because installation companies know exactly what they’re doing, but we assure you they are.

Gutters should have a specific slope based on this formula:

¼ of an inch of drop per 10 feet of gutter

This formula tells your gutter installation technician where to fasten the downspout so that heavier amounts of precipitation can flow unobstructed from your roof. The side of your roof where the downspouts are is the side that should be the lower end.

Longer areas of gutter, like across the front of a home, may require a downspout on both sides. When this is the situation, the gutters will need to be pitched from the middle, meaning that the middle of the roofline will be the absolute highest point, and both downspouts should be lower than this center point.

Gutter Pitch Problems

If your gutters are installed the wrong way or if they have become loose or bent at all, it can lead to problems that might be expensive and complex to repair.

When there is a gutter pitch problem, it can cause water to back up in your gutter channels. Water is a common issue around the house, as it can cause all of the issues below:

• Rain inside of 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 damage to the fascia, sub-roofing and even leak inside your house.
• Pooling water is one way mildew and mold can grow on areas of your roof, gutters or siding. Removing mold is a very hard project, especially if it grows on your roof. Mold is known for ruining organic materials (many of which exist in your house) and making people sick.
• The weight of blocked water inside your rain gutters can cause them to tear away from your house. The gutters can pull fasteners from the siding, destroying your vinyl or other exterior material. It can also damage surrounding 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 do:

Look for Hanging Spots

Like we mentioned above, you shouldn’t be able to see the slope of your rain gutters. If you can noticeably identify where the low point is, it is a sign that your gutter has been damaged or that it is getting old.

You should still be able to see a dip in the gutters from below, so this is a safe job that you can do on your own, with their feet on the ground.

Check for Standing Water

Water follows the path of least resistance, so any amount of water inside of your home’s gutters is a problem. If possible, inspect the gutters right after rainfall so you can see the draining of the water.

This could force you to climb a ladder, so be careful. If you aren’t comfortable doing this, you can have a local handyman or a gutter specialist from AllClean KC Gutters do it for you.

Inspect for Shingle Particles

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

You can climb up a ladder and look, or you might see some of these particles flowing out of your gutters by way of the downspouts. If you see a small amount in these areas, there is a good chance there is more that is unable to make its way out.

Why is There Overflow?

Gutter overflow is usually caused by a blockage, but it can also be because of incorrect gutter pitch. If water is flowing the wrong direction, know as “back pitch,” you will see water overflowing from the end cap. This can damage to your roof, gutters and landscaping.

To prevent the possibility of a blockage, schedule gutter cleaning at least once a year or install gutter guards. If you know the gutters are clean but there is still overflow, it’s another indicator that there is a gutter pitch problem.

Professional Gutter Damage Repair

If your gutter pitch gets incorrect, it can create several problems for your home. All of the problems above can let you know that your gutter pitch is off.

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

Gutter Repair in Kansas City

The first option will be repairing your existing gutters so the pitch is restored. If the rain gutters are in prime condition and undamaged, this will be the route AllClean KC Gutters encourages.

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

Gutter Installation in Kansas City

If your rain gutters are severely damaged, or if they are starting to rust or wear down with age, AllClean KC Gutters may recommend to replace them instead of re-pitching them. This will be more economical in the long run and time-saving.

If your gutters need to be replaced with new ones, they will come compete with new fasteners, hardware and downspouts. The installer should set the gutters at the correct pitch. You can reference the tips above to make sure the new installation was done correctly.