The drip after the rain
The most common complaint is a drip that continues long after the rain stops. Causes:
- Standing water in a sag or in a gutter pitched the wrong way, draining slowly through a seam or the outlet.
- A slow downspout partly blocked by debris, dripping for hours.
- Water running off the roof edge behind or in front of the gutter because the drip edge is missing or short.
- A leaky seam or end cap letting water fall onto a window sill, AC unit or metal roof below.
Fixes: re-pitch sagging sections by adjusting or adding hangers, clear the outlet and downspout, reseal seams and end caps, and add a gutter apron where water runs behind the gutter. See drip edge and gutter apron and gutter hangers explained.
Plinking in the downspout
Water falling from the gutter outlet into the downspout hits metal, especially at the elbows. At the end of a storm, single drops fall the full height of the downspout and ping at the bottom elbow. Fixes:
- Downspout dampers or noise reducers: soft foam or rubber inserts, or a small sponge or piece of outdoor-rated fabric wedged at the outlet so drops run down the wall of the downspout instead of falling straight.
- A string or chain inside the downspout, a traditional trick that guides water down quietly; it can catch debris, so check it.
- Larger downspouts (3x4 inch) where drops hit the sides less.
Roaring in heavy rain
A downspout that roars or gurgles in a downpour may simply be moving a lot of water, which is normal. But loud bangs, sputtering and water shooting out at joints mean the downspout is overloaded or blocked. Larger or additional downspouts fix the capacity problem. See downspout size and placement.
Splashing at the bottom
Water hitting a hard surface such as a patio, concrete walk, gravel or an AC unit below the downspout makes noise and splashes the wall. Use a splash block, a flexible extension that carries water onto grass, or route the downspout elsewhere. A rain barrel or rain garden also reduces splash. See downspouts and your foundation.
Ticking and popping on sunny days
Aluminum and steel gutters expand and contract as they heat and cool. On long runs, especially dark-colored gutters in the sun, you may hear ticking or popping as the metal moves against hangers and the fascia. It is usually harmless. Very long straight runs sometimes need an expansion joint so the gutter can move without buckling or pulling hangers loose; ask the installer if you have runs of more than about 40 feet. See seamless vs. sectional.
Rattling and banging in wind
Loose hangers, downspouts that are not strapped at each joint and guards that are not fastened rattle in wind. Tighten or replace hangers, add downspout straps and secure guards. Loose parts are also a warning sign: they fail first in storms.
Drops hitting a metal roof, window AC or deck
Where an upper downspout empties onto a lower roof, especially a metal roof, the sound can be loud. A diverter or splash guard spreads the water, or the downspout can be extended down to the gutter below. On metal roofs, see gutters for metal roofs.
Rain chains
Rain chains are sometimes chosen for their gentle sound, but in heavy rain they splash more than downspouts. They are best where the splash does no harm. See rain chains vs. downspouts.
Noise from ice and snow
In winter, cracking and thumping can come from snow and ice sliding off the roof into the gutter or from ice breaking loose from gutters. Heavy ice is a risk to gutters and people below. See ice dams and gutters and heat cables for gutters.
Animals
Scratching and scurrying sounds in the gutter or at the roofline may be squirrels, birds or rodents. Guards keep them out. See gutters and pests.
When the noise is a symptom
Some noises point to problems that cost money later. A drip that lands in the same spot every rain can rot a window sill or deck board and erode soil at the foundation. Water shooting out at a downspout joint soaks the wall behind it. Rattling hangers are the first to let go in a storm, and a gutter that bangs against the fascia in wind is already loose. Treat new noises as a reason to take a closer look, especially after a storm or a hard winter.
Quiet by design
If you are replacing gutters, a few choices reduce noise from the start: 6-inch gutters and 3x4-inch downspouts carry water with less splashing and sputtering; hidden hangers at close spacing hold gutters tightly; seamless runs have fewer seams to drip; and downspout locations planned away from bedrooms, patios and AC units keep noise where it does not bother anyone. Tell the installer if a particular room or spot is sensitive to noise. See what happens on gutter installation day.
Neighbors and noise
On closely spaced lots and in townhouses, a downspout or drip next to a neighbor’s bedroom window can cause friction. Downspouts can often be moved to another corner, and extensions or buried lines can carry water to a quieter spot. Many cities also have rules against directing roof water onto a neighboring property, so a new downspout location should discharge on your own lot and drain away from both houses.
Gutters that overflow with a splash
Water spilling over the front of the gutter makes a steady splashing sound on the ground or on lower roofs during rain. That usually means a clog, a gutter that is too small or too few downspouts. Clear the gutter and watch it in the next storm; if it still overflows when clean, add or upsize downspouts or consider 6-inch gutters. See gutters overflowing in heavy rain.
Quick checklist
- Watch the gutters in rain: where does water go?
- After rain, look for standing water and drips.
- Check hangers, straps and guards for looseness.
- Clear outlets, elbows and downspouts.
- Add splash blocks, extensions or dampers where drops hit hard surfaces.
If the noise comes from a system that is sagging, leaking at many seams or pulling away from the house, it is often time for new gutters. See signs you need new gutters.