Rain Running Behind Gutters

Water gets behind the gutter.

Rain running behind gutters.

One main cause is simply not having enough overhang on the roof edging or the roof covering itself. If so then there is a problem with the gutter and or flashing installation. Some of the water may leak behind the gutters down towards the soffit and the fascia. If the water fills the inside of the gutter this means the gutters are clogged.

The gutter apron will prevent the dripping. If this is the case this tutorial will help you clean your gutters. If the gutter is clogged some of that water will back up on the roof soaking it. Gutters are supposed to direct water away from your roof and into the ground.

This does not allow the water to be carried far enough out. The reason water flows behind gutters is a combination of a few things. If you have rain water running behind your gutters then it is likely that you have clogged gutters. A gutter apron is a bent piece of flashing that tucks up under the shingles and over the gutter.

If the gutter isn t clogged then you need a gutter apron. And it doesn t stop there. There are a few elements that come into play that cause water to run behind the gutter. When the roof shingles do not extend past the metal drip edge the water will suck back on the metal drip edge this is called capillary action and run behind your gutters.

When it rolls over the edge it follows the contour of the edging and makes its way behind the gutter. When gutters become clogged with debris such as leaves twigs and pine needles then water is no longer effectively channeled into the downspouts and away from your home. In addition to the drip flashing you should check that the gutters are properly affixed. Capillary action is a water activity in which water adheres to a surface and follow the surface around.

Many of the solid gutter covers are design to take advantage of this water characteristic. If water is dripping behind your gutter it s probably because it was installed without any flashing over the back of the gutter. Is the water running down the roof not going into the gutter and instead flowing behind the gutter.