By Omer Okic, owner of Ultimate Exteriors · 28 years on Des Moines homesOriginally published August 2022 · Updated November 2026
Gutters need repair when they sag or pull away from the fascia, leak at seams or cracks, overflow when clean, or let water pool near your foundation. Catching it early is far cheaper than fixing rot or a wet basement.
- Sagging or crooked runs hold standing water
- Cracks and leaky seams show up best in the rain
- Peeling paint and stains below the gutters are warning signs
- Water pooling at the foundation is the one not to ignore
Gutters don't get much attention until they fail, and by then the damage is often showing up somewhere else: rotted fascia, stained siding or a damp basement. Here are the most common signs your gutters need help.
Your gutters look crooked or are sagging
Gutters should run in a straight line with a slight pitch toward each downspout. If a run sags in the middle or pulls away from the fascia board, water pools at the low spot instead of draining. That extra weight makes the sag worse, and the standing water can rot the fascia behind it. Loose hangers can sometimes be re-secured; badly bent runs usually need replacing.
You can see cracks or drips
Big cracks are easy to spot on a dry day. Small ones show up when it rains, as drips from the middle of a run or at the corners. Sectional gutters are especially prone to leaking at the joints. Small leaks can sometimes be sealed, but a gutter with many leaky joints is usually a good candidate for seamless gutters.
Signs in and around your house
- Water pooling near the foundation means water isn't being carried far enough away.
- Peeling paint or stains on siding below the gutters means water is running down the wall.
- Washed-out mulch or soil under the roof edge means gutters are overflowing.
- Mold, mildew or a damp basement can trace back to gutters and downspouts.
- Big icicles every winter can mean clogged gutters or an ice dam problem.
Overflow when the gutters are clean
If your gutters overflow in heavy rain even after you've cleaned them, they may be too small for your roof, pitched wrong or short on downspouts. Steep or large roofs often need 6-inch gutters and enlarged downspouts.
Repair or replace?
A loose hanger, one leaky corner or a bent downspout is a repair. Widespread sagging, rust, many leaking joints or gutters that are simply too small usually call for replacement. Our gutter cost guide shows what new seamless gutters cost per foot in Des Moines.
Quick answers
How do I know if my gutters need to be replaced?
Widespread sagging, rust, many leaking joints, gutters pulling off the fascia or gutters that overflow even when clean usually mean replacement makes more sense than repair.
Can sagging gutters be fixed?
Often, if the gutter itself is in good shape. New hangers and a corrected pitch can fix a sag. Bent or rotted sections usually need replacing.
Gutters giving you trouble?
See our gutter repair and replacement services, or get a free gutter estimate.