7 Signs You Need New Gutters

You likely need new gutters when they sag or pull away, leak at the seams, overflow even when clean, or leave water marks and peeling paint below them, and Angi says gutters past about 20 years old are often better replaced than repaired. One loose hanger or a leaky end cap is a repair; several of these signs at once usually means replacement.

1. Sagging or pulling away from the fascia

Sagging is the most common gutter problem Angi customers report, at about 26% of cases. A gutter that dips in the middle or pulls away at the ends is holding water instead of moving it. The usual causes are failed spikes or hangers, the weight of packed debris or ice, and a fascia board that has gone soft and will not hold a screw. One loose hanger is an easy fix. A whole run pulling away, or sags in several places, points to new gutters on hidden hangers screwed into sound wood.

2. Leaks, cracks and separated seams

Angi lists cracks, leaks and overflowing or non-draining gutters as clear signs it is time to replace, and about 14% of the problems its customers report involve clogged, disconnected or broken gutters and downspouts. On sectional gutters, every joint is a place for sealant to dry out and split. Drips at one corner can be resealed. Drips at seam after seam along a run mean the system is wearing out, and switching to seamless gutter replacement cuts the number of joints down to corners and outlets.

3. Overflow when the gutters are clean

If water sheets over the front edge in a normal rain and the gutter is empty, the problem is design, not debris. The gutter may be too small for the roof area, pitched wrong, or short on downspouts. This Old House says standard slope is about 1/4 inch for every 10 feet and that runs of 60 feet or longer should have at least two outlets. Central Iowa summer storms come in hard bursts, so an undersized gutter shows itself fast. Our gutter size guide explains the math.

4. Water marks, peeling paint and soft fascia

Angi names nearby watermarks and chipping paint around the gutters as warning signs. Look at the fascia board and siding just below the gutter. Dark streaks, peeling paint or green growth mean water is running behind or over the gutter instead of through it. Angi says clogs are the main cause of fascia damage and that fascia boards provide the support for gutters. Press on the fascia with a screwdriver. If it is soft, the wood needs repair before any new gutter goes up.

5. A wet basement or washed-out flower beds

Gutters protect more than the roof edge. University of Minnesota Extension says a downspout without an extension or splash block is worse than no downspout at all, and that extensions should carry water at least 4 feet beyond the wall. If your basement gets damp after storms, mulch washes out under a corner, or soil has sunk along the foundation, follow the water back up. Often a clogged outlet, a missing downspout or a gutter that overflows at one corner is the cause.

6. Age and material

Angi's 2026 lifespan figures are about 25 years for aluminum, 10 to 15 years for vinyl, 50 years for zinc and stainless steel, and 100 years for copper. Angi also says gutters past about 20 years old are often more cost-effective to replace than to keep repairing. If your gutters came with the house and you do not know when they went up, look for faded or chalky paint, many patched seams, and old-style spikes driven through the face of the gutter.

7. Damage after a hard Iowa winter

Des Moines averages 36.5 inches of snow a season under the National Weather Service's 1991 to 2020 normals. Snow and ice sitting in gutters for weeks bends hangers, opens seams and pulls runs away from the house. Walk around the house each spring and look for new sags, bent corners and downspouts knocked loose. Storms can do the same in summer, and our hail damage guide covers what to check after one. Several new problems at once usually means it is time to replace.

Common Questions

What to Do Next

If you are seeing two or more of these signs, call or text Luke at (515) 901-3646 or send our estimate form. He will tell you straight whether a repair will do or whether new seamless gutters are the better spend.

See our gutter replacement service or call or text (515) 901-3646.