Gutters are an important part of your house. They collect all the water that pours off your roof and then direct water down to a drain, where the water will go down and away from your roof. Gutters also help to protect your foundation, because the water that is collected in the gutters won't be landing right up against your house, and will, instead, be directed away from your house. That's why you need to make sure that you have sturdy gutters. In order to have sturdy gutters, you need to know the signs of failing gutters so that you can get them repaired as soon as possible. 

Foul Smell

One sign that you might have gutters that are failing is that you get a whiff of a foul smell emanating from your gutters. The reason for the smell is that leaf material is decomposing in your gutters. That decomposing matter doesn't smell all that attractive, and the longer it happens, the more organic material gets caught in the mess in your gutters. The more organic material that's there, the stronger the smell is going to be. 

Moss and Mildew

If you are seeing things like moss and mildew growing on the walls of your house, that's a sign that you might have failing gutters. The reason you might see moss and mildew is because water will be running down the sides of your house, and if your walls aren't drying out well, that can give moss and mildew a perfect place to live, and they will start to grow. The moss and mildew can do damage to your house, so you want to make sure that you get rid of it if you see it and get your gutters in that area checked out. 

Water in Basement/Foundation

If you notice that you have water in your basement or foundation, you might have damaged gutters. That's because the water isn't getting carried away from your house anymore and is ending up right against your house and staying there. Water is going to leak through small cracks into your basement and foundations and cause damage.  

You need to make sure that your gutters are sturdy and in good shape. One way to do that is to know the signs that your gutters are failing so that you can get them repaired as soon as possible.  

For more information about gutters, contact a local roofer.