We all know that standing water in gutters is a bad sign. But what actually happens when water just… sits? Simple. Problems happen. Lots of them. From rot and rust to pests and foundation damage, stagnant water is the beginning of a long (and expensive) chain reaction for your home.
If your gutters aren’t draining properly—or worse, water is pooling around your foundation—here’s what you need to know.
Why Is the water sitting in the first place?
If your gutter system is working as it should, water should be collected, channeled and pushed through the downspouts with no issues. When water starts pooling or lingering in the troughs, here’s what could be wrong:
- Clogs from leaves, pine needles or pollen
- Improper slope or pitch
- Detached or sagging gutters creating low points where water gets stuck
- Poor drainage at ground level, causing water to pool around your foundation
No matter the cause, sitting water is a red flag. And if you ignore it? That’s when the real issues start.
So what happens when water sits in your gutters?
This is where gutter damage and pest problems stem.
- Rust and Corrosion: Standing water eats away at gutter materials over time—even aluminum. It speeds up the corrosion process, especially in joints and seams, leading to leaks or total gutter failure.
- Mosquito Breeding Ground: Charleston summers are already mosquito central. Give them a few inches of still water in your gutter troughs, and boom—instant resort. Mosquitoes can breed in as little as a bottle cap’s worth of water, so don’t give them a gutter-sized playground.
- Sagging and Structural Damage: Water is heavy. When it collects in one section of your gutter, it puts stress on the fasteners and fascia board. Over time, this weight can pull gutters away from your house and even damage the roofline or siding.
What Happens When Water Sits Around Your Foundation
It’s not just your gutters at risk. When overflow or downspout issues send water pooling around the base of your home, your foundation takes the hit.
- Soil Erosion: Water washes away the soil that supports your foundation, creating uneven pressure and destabilizing the structure over time.
- Cracks and Leaks: Sitting water seeps into the tiniest cracks and crevices—and eventually creates more. These cracks allow moisture into crawl spaces and basements, leading to musty smells, mildew or worse.
- Mold Growth: Dark, damp spaces around a foundation are perfect for mold and mildew. If water isn’t draining properly, it creates a health hazard as well as a structural one.
How do you fix (or prevent) standing water?
If water is sitting after every storm, it’s not just annoying—it’s your home trying to tell you something. The good news? All of this is avoidable.
Start by checking your gutters for sagging, leaks or sections pulling away from the fascia. These can trap water and prevent proper drainage. Make sure your gutters are pitched slightly toward the downspouts to keep water moving instead of pooling.
If debris is the culprit, consider installing gutter guards to block leaves, pine needles and pollen—especially useful during Charleston’s stormy seasons. Don’t forget to check your downspouts, too. They should extend far enough from your home to keep water from collecting around the foundation.
If issues persist, a full gutter inspection can catch hidden problems before they turn into costly repairs. When that time comes…you can trust our Lowcountry gutter company.
Let’s get that water moving.
Holy City Gutterworks is your trusted Charleston gutter company, here to help with gutter installation, repair, protection systems and honest advice that keeps your home dry, healthy and problem-free. Contact us today for a free estimate or to learn how we can help protect your home year-round.
