Gutters leaking or sagging?

A gutter that drips at a joint or hangs low has usually lost its sealant or its hold on the fascia. Ladder safety comes first, and a soft board behind the gutter means a carpenter, not just a gutter fix.

Not sure which one it is? Snap your gutters and we’ll narrow it down.

Does water spill over the edge instead?

A clog or a lost slope usually causes that. Gutters overflowing

Likely causes

  1. Failed sealant at seams, corners and end caps

    Most commonModerate DIY

    Water drips from a joint, corner or end cap during rain, and the sealant there looks cracked, dry or pulled away.

    Part: $194–643 (gutter repair, average $400)

  2. Rust holes or cracks

    CommonCall a pro

    Water sprays or drips from a hole or split along the trough, and the metal looks rusted or cracked.

    Part: $194–643 (gutter repair, average $400)

  3. Hangers or spikes pulled loose from the fascia

    CommonCall a pro

    The gutter pulls away from the house or dips between supports, and you can see gaps where the hangers or spikes have worked out.

    Part: $194–643 (gutter repair, average $400)

  4. Weight of wet debris or ice

    Less commonCall a pro

    The sag shows up where the gutter is full of leaves and water, or is loaded with ice in winter. See ice dams.

  5. Rotted fascia board behind the gutter

    Less commonCall a pro

    The board behind the gutter is soft, dark or crumbling, so hangers and spikes have nothing solid to hold. This needs a carpenter, not just a gutter fix.

Quick checks

Ladder safety comes first. Set the ladder level on firm footing, keep three points of contact, and move the ladder instead of leaning out. Keep ladders away from the service wires to the house. Don't climb on a wet or icy day. Two-story gutters are a job for a pro. Wear gloves: sharp metal edges and debris. A gutter full of water or ice is heavy and can pull loose.

  1. Watch from the ground during rain, if you can, and note exactly where it drips or sprays.
  2. Look at the gutter from the side for a sag, and for gaps between the gutter and the house.
  3. Check the fascia board behind the gutter from the ground or the ladder. If it feels soft or crumbles, don't rehang anything on it.
  4. If you go up, set the ladder level on firm footing, keep three points of contact and move the ladder instead of leaning out. Wear gloves, because metal edges are sharp.
  5. Photograph the leaking spot, the sag and the fascia board.
  6. If water is also getting inside, see roof leaking.
Sharpen the read

Diagnose your gutters in seconds, for free

No account, no phone number. Fixology’s AI reads your photo and tells you what’s likely wrong, how worried to be, and whether it’s a DIY fix.

Snap one of these:

  • the overflowing or leaking section during rain, if you can
  • where the downspout meets the gutter
  • the gutter from the side, showing any sag
  • the fascia board behind the gutter

Add a note or more photos next. Nobody calls you.

When to call a pro

Call a gutter pro for a sagging or pulled-away gutter, rust holes, or any gutter on a second story. Call a carpenter if the fascia board behind it is soft or rotted. Only the pro can tell whether a repair is enough or the gutter needs replacing. For the bigger picture, see the gutters guide.

Typical cost: HomeAdvisor puts gutter repair at an average of $400 ($194–643), and full replacement at $1,600–2,175. It gives no separate figure for resealing a seam or rehanging a sag, so the repair range is the best guide. Fascia carpentry is not priced here.

Sources: HomeAdvisor: How much does gutter repair cost? (updated June 17, 2026)

After a scan, Fixology can also help you find pros near you.

Related problems

  • Gutters overflowing?

    Gutters

    Water pours over the edge of the gutter in rain, from clogs, a blocked downspout, a lost slope, heavy rain or winter ice.

  • Furnace won't heat?

    FurnaceFall

    The furnace runs but the house stays cold, which is usually a clogged filter, a thermostat setting, or an ignition fault.

  • Heat pump not heating?

    Heat pumpFall

    The heat pump runs but the house stays cold, which is usually thermostat settings, a clogged filter, or an iced-over outdoor unit.

  • Washer won't drain?

    Washer

    Water is left in the drum after the cycle, which is usually a clogged pump filter or a kinked drain hose.

Fixology helps you understand your home — it isn't a substitute for a licensed pro on serious gas, electrical, or structural work.