Gutter Check After Hurricane Season in Mobile, AL

Every year, Mobile homeowners spend the summer and early fall keeping one eye on the Gulf. Even when a season brings no direct hit, it usually brings plenty of tropical rain, gusty squall lines and afternoon thunderstorms that put your gutters to work. Once the weather settles down, it's the perfect time to take a careful look at your gutters, downspouts and fascia, before winter storms and next year's season arrive.

Here's a simple, practical checklist for a gutter check after hurricane season in Mobile, AL, and how to tell what you can handle yourself and when it's time to call a pro.

Why a Post-Season Gutter Check Matters in Mobile

The Atlantic hurricane season officially runs from June 1 through November 30, according to the National Hurricane Center. For Mobile, that stretch overlaps with our wettest, stormiest months. Heavy rain, wind-driven debris and falling limbs can loosen hangers, bend gutter runs, pull downspouts away from the wall and pack gutters with leaves and pine straw.

Small problems are easy to miss from the driveway. A gutter that's pulled away from the fascia by half an inch, or a downspout elbow that has popped loose, may not look like much. But in the next heavy rain, that water goes straight down the siding and into the soil next to your foundation. Catching it early is almost always cheaper than fixing the water damage it leads to later.

Your Post-Hurricane-Season Gutter Checklist

Most of this can be done from the ground with a good look around the house. Only climb a ladder if you're comfortable doing it safely, and never work on a ladder in wet or windy weather.

• Walk the whole roofline. Look for sagging sections, gutters that have pulled away from the house, and runs that no longer look straight.
• Check the corners and seams. Corners and end caps take a beating in storms. Look for drips, stains or rust streaks below them.
• Look for debris. Leaves, pine straw, twigs and shingle grit from storm winds collect fast. Plants growing out of a gutter are a sure sign it has been holding water.
• Inspect every downspout. Make sure each one is still attached to the wall, the elbows are connected, and water comes out freely at the bottom.
• Follow the water. Downspouts should discharge well away from the house. Washed-out mulch, puddles or soil erosion near the foundation mean the water isn't going far enough.
• Look at the fascia. Peeling paint, dark stains or soft spots on the boards behind the gutter can point to water getting behind the system.
• Watch it in the rain. The next time it rains, take a quick look outside. Water spilling over the front edge or pouring from a seam tells you exactly where the problem is.

Common Storm-Season Gutter Problems We See

Loose or sagging gutters

Wind, heavy rain and the weight of wet debris can loosen hangers over time. A sagging gutter holds standing water, which adds even more weight and can pull the gutter, and sometimes the fascia, further away from the house. Most sagging runs can be re-secured or re-pitched with a gutter repair rather than a full replacement.

Clogs from leaves and pine straw

Storm winds strip leaves and needles from the oaks and pines that shade so many Mobile neighborhoods. A clogged gutter overflows even in a moderate rain. If you're cleaning out pine straw several times a year, our guide to the best gutter guards for pine straw in Mobile explains which guard styles hold up best.

Damaged or detached downspouts

Downspouts are often the first thing to get knocked loose by wind, falling limbs or lawn equipment. When a downspout comes apart, all the water from that section of roof dumps in one spot, usually right next to your foundation.

Dents and bent sections from falling limbs

A dented gutter may still look fine, but it can change the slope of the run and leave water sitting in low spots. Bent sections are worth having looked at before the next heavy rain.

DIY Fixes vs. When to Call a Pro

Some post-season tasks are reasonable for many homeowners: clearing debris from a single-story gutter, reattaching a loose downspout elbow, or adding a splash block or extension so water runs farther from the house.

It's usually time to call a professional when:

• Gutters are pulling away from the house or the fascia feels soft
• Several sections are sagging, bent or leaking at the seams
• The work is on a two-story home or a steep roof
• Water keeps pooling near the foundation even after cleaning
• You need photos and a written estimate for an insurance claim

If storm damage is the cause, our storm and hurricane gutter repair service includes an inspection and a written estimate you can share with your insurance company.

Get Ready for Winter Storms and Next Season

Hurricane season ending doesn't mean the rain stops. Mobile still sees strong fall and winter fronts with heavy downpours, and leaf and pine straw season is just getting started. A clean, secure gutter system that drains away from your foundation is the best protection you can have heading into winter, and it puts you a step ahead when next June comes around.

Gutter Inspection and Repair in Mobile, AL

Southern Gutters LLC is a locally owned gutter company based in Mobile. If your post-season check turned up sagging gutters, loose downspouts, leaks or soft fascia, we'll take a look and give you an honest written estimate, free of charge. We repair existing gutters when that makes sense and install custom seamless gutters when it doesn't.

Call 251-800-1428 or request your free estimate online. You can also see all of our gutter services in Mobile, AL.