| What you see | Usual cause | Usual repair |
|---|---|---|
| Drip at a joint or corner | Sealant failed | Clean and reseal, or replace the corner |
| Drip at the downspout outlet | Outlet seal failed | Reseal or replace the outlet |
| A run sagging between hangers | Hangers pulled out or too far apart | Rehang on new hangers, closer together |
| Gutter leaning off the house | Fascia rotted behind the screws | Replace the fascia, then rehang |
| Water down the wall behind the gutter | Roof edge does not lap into the gutter | Add a drip edge or gutter apron |
| Water standing a day after rain | Pitch runs the wrong way | Rehang at the right slope |
| Downspout loose or crushed | Strap or elbow failed, struck | Refasten or replace the section |
The fascia question
A gutter is only as solid as the board behind it. Before any rehanging, a good repair visit presses along the fascia: if screws will not hold, the board is replaced first. See fascia and soffit.
Repair or replace
Repair is the right call when the trouble is in one or two places. Replacement starts to win when joints leak all along the run, the metal is rusted through or dented in many places, or the gutters are old for their material. InterNACHI's chart gives aluminum gutters 20 to 40 years or more and galvanized steel about 20. New and seamless gutters