--- title: Gutter Problems Diagnostic Tool | Kansas City | Premier Gutters KC description: Free interactive gutter problem diagnostic. Pick your symptom — overflow, leak, sag, drip, ice dam, hail damage — and get likely causes, DIY checks, and when to call a pro. source_url: https://premiergutterskc.com/tools/gutter-problems-diagnostic/ site: Premier Gutters KC phone: (816) 469-9563 --- [Home](/)/[Free Tools](/tools/)/Gutter Problems Diagnostic Free Tool · 60 Seconds # What's wrong with my gutters? Pick the symptom you're seeing. We'll show you the most likely causes, what you can check yourself, and when it's time to call a pro — written by a Kansas City crew with 35 years of experience. ## Step 1 · Pick your symptom Choose the problem that best matches what you're seeing. Multiple symptoms? Start with the most severe. **Gutters overflow during rain**Severity: HIGH **Leaks at the corner (miter joint)**Severity: MED **Gutters sag or pull away from the house**Severity: HIGH **Drips from the underside (between gutter and house)**Severity: HIGH **Standing water in the gutter 24 hrs after rain**Severity: MED **Downspout splashes water near the foundation**Severity: HIGH **Rust spots or peeling paint on the gutter**Severity: LOW **Plants or birds nesting in the gutter**Severity: LOW **Ice dam or huge icicles in winter**Severity: HIGH **Basement gets wet during heavy rain**Severity: HIGH **Visible dents from hail or wind damage**Severity: HIGH **Gutter section loose or hanging at one end**Severity: HIGH ⚠ Fix soon Problem 1 of 12 ### Gutters overflow during rain #### Most likely causes - **Gutters too small** for the roof area. KC summer storms (3-4 in/hr) overwhelm 5" gutters on roofs over 1,500 sq ft. - **Downspouts undersized or too few.** A 2x3 downspout drains ~30 ft of gutter; you need one every 30-40 ft. - **Gutters clogged.** Debris from oak buds, maple seeds, or fall leaves blocks the flow. - **Pitch wrong.** Gutters need ~1/4" per 10 ft slope toward downspouts. #### What to check yourself Run a garden hose at the high end of the gutter. If water doesn't reach the downspout in 30 seconds, the gutter is either clogged or sloped wrong. Look for standing water 24 hrs after rain — that's a pitch problem. #### When to call a pro If it overflows on every storm and you've already cleaned it, the gutter is undersized. Time to size up to 6" or add a second downspout. [Get free inspection →](https://clienthub.getjobber.com/hubs/b7392efd-eb98-49b7-9077-712d133c7108/public/requests/4823418/new) [Call (816) 469-9563](tel:+18164699563)⚠ Worth checking Problem 2 of 12 ### Leaks at the corner (miter joint) #### Most likely causes - **Failed caulk seal.** Mitered corners are caulked, and that caulk dries out in 5-10 years. - **Movement from ice expansion.** KC winters push seams apart. - **Improper mitering.** Box-store gutters often have weak factory miters. - **Galvanic corrosion** if mixed metals were used (steel rivets in aluminum gutter). #### What to check yourself Wipe the corner dry. Run a finger along the inside of the joint and feel for cracks. A flashlight from below at night with someone running water above will show pinhole leaks. #### When to call a pro If it's a sectional gutter, a recaulk buys you 2-3 more years. If you want it permanent, custom miters welded into a seamless run is the only fix that lasts. [Get free inspection →](https://clienthub.getjobber.com/hubs/b7392efd-eb98-49b7-9077-712d133c7108/public/requests/4823418/new) [Call (816) 469-9563](tel:+18164699563)⚠ Fix soon Problem 3 of 12 ### Gutters sag or pull away from the house #### Most likely causes - **Spike-and-ferrule hangers failed.** The old wood-screw spike loosens over 5-10 years. Common on 1990s-2000s KC homes. - **Fascia rot underneath.** If water got behind the gutter, the fascia board is soft and won't hold hangers. - **Hanger spacing too wide.** Should be 24" on-center max in KC (snow-load). - **Ice dam pulled it forward.** Winter snow + freeze cycles push gutter forward. #### What to check yourself Press up gently on the front edge of the gutter. If you feel give or hear creaking, hangers are loose. Check the fascia from the attic side or with a screwdriver from below — soft wood means rot. #### When to call a pro Almost always needs replacement, not repair. A sagging gutter has usually rotted the fascia behind it. We replace both at once. [Get free inspection →](https://clienthub.getjobber.com/hubs/b7392efd-eb98-49b7-9077-712d133c7108/public/requests/4823418/new) [Call (816) 469-9563](tel:+18164699563)⚠ Fix soon Problem 4 of 12 ### Drips from the underside (between gutter and house) #### Most likely causes - **No drip edge flashing** on the roof, so water sneaks behind the gutter. - **Gutter pulled away** from fascia — even 1/8" gap is enough. - **Apron/kickout missing** at the roof valley. - **Fascia rot** letting water seep through. #### What to check yourself On a dry day, look up under the gutter where it meets the house. If you see daylight or staining on the fascia, water is getting behind. Check after rain for fresh wet streaks. #### When to call a pro Yes, this needs attention soon — water trapped between gutter and house rots fascia, soffit, and eventually wall framing. Drip edge + apron flashing fix is straightforward but needs a pro. [Get free inspection →](https://clienthub.getjobber.com/hubs/b7392efd-eb98-49b7-9077-712d133c7108/public/requests/4823418/new) [Call (816) 469-9563](tel:+18164699563)⚠ Worth checking Problem 5 of 12 ### Standing water in the gutter 24 hrs after rain #### Most likely causes - **Pitch is wrong.** Gutter should slope ~1/4" per 10 ft toward downspout. - **Downspout outlet clogged** at the bottom of the gutter. - **Sagging mid-section** creates a low spot. - **House settled** — the eave is no longer level with the original install. #### What to check yourself Use a level on top of the front edge of the gutter. If it's level (or worse, backward-sloped away from the downspout), you have a pitch problem. Water sitting in gutters breeds mosquitoes and rusts the bottom out. #### When to call a pro Re-pitching a gutter usually means new hangers and sometimes a new section. Cheap fix if caught early. If the gutter has rusted-through bottoms from years of standing water, you need replacement. [Get free inspection →](https://clienthub.getjobber.com/hubs/b7392efd-eb98-49b7-9077-712d133c7108/public/requests/4823418/new) [Call (816) 469-9563](tel:+18164699563)⚠ Fix soon Problem 6 of 12 ### Downspout splashes water near the foundation #### Most likely causes - **No splash block or extension** at the downspout outlet. - **Extension too short** — needs to discharge 4-6 ft from foundation min. - **Grade slopes toward house.** KC clay soil holds water against foundations. - **Extension clogged or disconnected.** #### What to check yourself After a heavy rain, walk to each downspout. Is water pooling near the foundation? Stick your finger in the soil — if it's muddy 6 ft out, your extensions aren't moving water far enough. #### When to call a pro KC clay soil + foundation water = wet basements and cracked foundations. Bury the downspout extension underground with 4" Schedule 40 PVC to a or French drain. This is the fix that prevents basement floods. [Get free inspection →](https://clienthub.getjobber.com/hubs/b7392efd-eb98-49b7-9077-712d133c7108/public/requests/4823418/new) [Call (816) 469-9563](tel:+18164699563)⚠ Routine Problem 7 of 12 ### Rust spots or peeling paint on the gutter #### Most likely causes - **Steel gutters reaching end of life.** Galvanized steel lasts 15-20 years; aluminum lasts 30-40. - **Standing water** has eaten through the inside coating. - **Salt damage** from winter de-icer near the foundation. - **Acidic debris** (oak buds, pine needles) sitting in the gutter for months. #### What to check yourself Aluminum gutters don't rust — if you see rust, you have steel. Tap it with a screwdriver: if it dents or punches through easily, the metal is shot. #### When to call a pro Once steel gutters start rusting through, patching is a temporary band-aid. Time to swap to aluminum (lasts 30-40 yrs) or copper (75+ yrs). [Get free inspection →](https://clienthub.getjobber.com/hubs/b7392efd-eb98-49b7-9077-712d133c7108/public/requests/4823418/new) [Call (816) 469-9563](tel:+18164699563)⚠ Routine Problem 8 of 12 ### Plants or birds nesting in the gutter #### Most likely causes - **Debris buildup** created enough soil for seeds to germinate (especially maple seedlings). - **No gutter guards.** - **Birds use it for nesting** material is sitting there. - **Standing water** makes it more habitable. #### What to check yourself Pull the plants/nest by hand. If there's enough soil for a plant to grow, you have years of decomposed debris in there. Time for a full cleaning. #### When to call a pro After cleaning, install gutter guards. LeafBlaster Pro micro-mesh keeps everything out — even maple seeds and pine needles. [Get free inspection →](https://clienthub.getjobber.com/hubs/b7392efd-eb98-49b7-9077-712d133c7108/public/requests/4823418/new) [Call (816) 469-9563](tel:+18164699563)⚠ Fix soon Problem 9 of 12 ### Ice dam or huge icicles in winter #### Most likely causes - **Attic heat loss** melts roof snow, which refreezes at the cold eave. - **Clogged or sagging gutters** hold snow/water that refreezes. - **Inadequate attic insulation or ventilation.** - **No ice-and-water shield** under the bottom 3-6 ft of roof (older KC homes). #### What to check yourself Icicles a few inches long are normal. Icicles 12"+ long, or ice backing UP the roof, means an ice dam is forming. Look in the attic on cold days for heat leaks (warm spots, melted frost). #### When to call a pro Ice dams force water UNDER your shingles into the ceiling. Long-term fix is insulation + ventilation. Short-term: heat cables in the gutter, or clear gutters before winter so meltwater has somewhere to go. We can install heat cables. [Get free inspection →](https://clienthub.getjobber.com/hubs/b7392efd-eb98-49b7-9077-712d133c7108/public/requests/4823418/new) [Call (816) 469-9563](tel:+18164699563)⚠ Fix soon Problem 10 of 12 ### Basement gets wet during heavy rain #### Most likely causes - **Gutters overflowing** and dumping at the foundation. - **Downspouts not extended** away from the house. - **Grade slopes toward house.** - **Foundation drain (footing tile) failed.** - **No sump pump or pump failed.** #### What to check yourself During the next storm, walk outside with an umbrella and look. Where is water coming off the roof? Pooling? Hitting the foundation? Photos of where the water actually goes will tell us exactly what to fix. #### When to call a pro This is the #1 reason KC homeowners call us. Fixing gutters + extending downspouts to 6+ ft from the house solves 80% of basement water problems before you need expensive interior waterproofing. [Get free inspection →](https://clienthub.getjobber.com/hubs/b7392efd-eb98-49b7-9077-712d133c7108/public/requests/4823418/new) [Call (816) 469-9563](tel:+18164699563)⚠ Fix soon Problem 11 of 12 ### Visible dents from hail or wind damage #### Most likely causes - **Recent hail storm.** KC averages 3-5 damaging hail storms per spring. - **High winds** tore section loose. - **Falling branch or tree.** - **Snow/ice slide off the roof.** #### What to check yourself Take photos NOW (date-stamped). Dents on the side of the gutter, dings on downspouts, cracks — document everything. Get on a ladder if safe and photograph the top of the gutter too. #### When to call a pro Most insurance policies cover hail damage to gutters. Use our [Hail Damage Claim Helper](/tools/hail-damage-claim-helper/) to walk through filing the claim properly. [Get free inspection →](https://clienthub.getjobber.com/hubs/b7392efd-eb98-49b7-9077-712d133c7108/public/requests/4823418/new) [Call (816) 469-9563](tel:+18164699563)⚠ Fix soon Problem 12 of 12 ### Gutter section loose or hanging at one end #### Most likely causes - **Hanger pulled out of fascia.** - **Fascia behind it is rotted** from previous water damage. - **Recent storm** — wind or ice. - **Snow/ice slide off roof** tore it loose. #### What to check yourself Don't try to push it back up while standing on a ladder — the whole section could come down on you. If it's a safety hazard, tape off the area below until you can get it inspected. #### When to call a pro Same-week emergency repair if needed. We'll secure or replace the section, then check the rest of the run for hangers about to fail. [Get free inspection →](https://clienthub.getjobber.com/hubs/b7392efd-eb98-49b7-9077-712d133c7108/public/requests/4823418/new) [Call (816) 469-9563](tel:+18164699563) Not Sure? ## Free in-person diagnosis If you've got more than one problem, or you're not sure which symptom matches, we'll come out and walk the whole gutter system with you. No obligation, no charge. ### Book a free 30-minute inspection Our crew shows up, walks the roofline, checks the fascia, runs water through the system, and gives you a written quote for any fixes — no pressure to book. [Request inspection →](https://clienthub.getjobber.com/hubs/b7392efd-eb98-49b7-9077-712d133c7108/public/requests/4823418/new) [Call (816) 469-9563](tel:+18164699563)