Water damage underneath the gutters: If you see water stains beneath your gutters, that’s a sign that they are leaking or have become clogged and water is spilling over the edge. This is a must-fix as water can rot the fascia and cause even more damage.

Mildew at the base of your house: Gutters channel water to the downspouts, which are curved at the bottom to direct water away from the base of the house. If your gutters are clogged, leaking or otherwise defective, then that water flows off the roof, forms a pool on the ground within a few feet of the building, and saturates the soil around the foundation of your house. When this happens, mildew, mold and/or rot form, causing even more structural damage to your home.

Rust, cracks or sagging: Gutters that are sagging, cracked or rusty might need replacement. If the crack or sag is minor, it may be tempting to put off any repairs, but small cracks in inclement weather will quickly turn to big cracks. As with clogs, cracks, sagging or rust, these will all prevent the gutters from working efficiently and eventually lead to leaks, which cause even more damage to the roof, siding, foundation and interior of your house.