How to fix dripping PVC guttering join

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#2877790 2-Mar-2022 14:50

richms:

I would undo the bracket for the trap and move it right so that the spouting reaches the line that its supposed to reach. That will mean it has a bit on the left that misses anything but thats better than a massive leak.

Today we're getting a drip every 5 seconds. Moving the trap I think we'd get a steady stream over the shed side door, so probably better as it is. I'll see if I can push it from the other end though, that end if a bit of water comes off it wouldn't matter as it's onto grass.

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#2877813 2-Mar-2022 15:17

I replaced a leaking expansion joint last year and I have minimal DIY skills.

Quite easy to do if you know which type of guttering shape you have. There were a couple of types at mitre10, also pickup the glue sealant to go with it.

A dremel tool with cutting disk makes it easy to cut out the existing gutter.

timmmay

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#2877839 2-Mar-2022 16:16

I just had a look outside. There's about 15cm of guttering overhanging the roof on the other side, so all I need to do is clear the old sealant off and push it along 10cm. It'll probably take about 5 mins if it slides ok :)

wally22

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#2877866 2-Mar-2022 18:27

That is an expansion outlet (or expansion dropper if you like) that you have, with the guttering not extending enough into it, as others have said. Expansion products should have a rubberised plastic gasket to allow the gutter to slide over when expanding/contracting. It moves a bit especially in the hot sun. The limit marked is to ensure the spouting doesn't meet when expanding and so buckle. It is not intended to have glue or silicon put in the joint. The gasket does the sealing. The overhang helps to keep the water away from the gasket, flowing it directly into the dropper and downpipe.

To fix it properly. I would recommend a new expansion outlet for about $30 (the mounting bracket is broken on the left of yours) This will ensure it works as designed, if it is installed correctly.

Of course you could just clean it up and move the mounting plate to the right, but treat the gasket with care to preserve it.

There are meant to be gutter brackets very close to the outlet to prevent strain on the expansion outlet by the guttering.

You can download guides from Marley and plumbing/ hardware stores for mounting help.

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#2877868 2-Mar-2022 18:31

timmmay:

I just had a look outside. There's about 15cm of guttering overhanging the roof on the other side, so all I need to do is clear the old sealant off and push it along 10cm. It'll probably take about 5 mins if it slides ok :)

Yup, a soft tap with a rubber mallet should do it if it doesn't move easily by hand.

Sometimes the heat/cool cycles will cause it to 'migrate' if it binds in different parts, and it kind of ratchets its way along.

Don't push it too far or you get the opposite problem - the spouting goes too far and blocks the downpipe.

timmmay

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#2877880 2-Mar-2022 19:43

wally22:

That is an expansion outlet (or expansion dropper if you like) that you have, with the guttering not extending enough into it, as others have said. Expansion products should have a rubberised plastic gasket to allow the gutter to slide over when expanding/contracting. It moves a bit especially in the hot sun. The limit marked is to ensure the spouting doesn't meet when expanding and so buckle. It is not intended to have glue or silicon put in the joint. The gasket does the sealing. The overhang helps to keep the water away from the gasket, flowing it directly into the dropper and downpipe.

To fix it properly. I would recommend a new expansion outlet for about $30 (the mounting bracket is broken on the left of yours) This will ensure it works as designed, if it is installed correctly.

Of course you could just clean it up and move the mounting plate to the right, but treat the gasket with care to preserve it.

There are meant to be gutter brackets very close to the outlet to prevent strain on the expansion outlet by the guttering.

You can download guides from Marley and plumbing/ hardware stores for mounting help.

Very useful, thanks. I didn't notice the cracked mount. If they still make this shape I'll get a new one with a new gasket, push the gutter in further, and make sure it has all the mounting brackets it needs. It's probably been up there about ten years, though the main house has been up there longer and looks fine.

neb

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#2877912 2-Mar-2022 21:44

timmmay:
It's a 6m run of guttering with no apparent expansion joint anywhere.

If it's an unbroken 6m length there's going to be quite a bit of movement due to expansion at the ends. Pure speculation here but could it be worth fitting an expansion joint a bit back from the problem area to deal with movement and then locking the current leak location into place with silicone?

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Jase2985

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#2877922 2-Mar-2022 22:33

marley say 6m is fine without an expansion anything more though should have one. and given you have once on the downpipe it should be ok

neb

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#2877931 2-Mar-2022 22:38

Jase2985:
marley say 6m is fine without an expansion anything more though should have one. and given you have once on the downpipe it should be ok

The problem though seems to be the very expansion on the downpipe. What I was thinking was move the movement away from the downpipe with a new, good-quality expansion joint further back and then lock the join between the gutter and the downpipe.

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#2877939 2-Mar-2022 22:56

its likely there is nothing to stop the movement of the spouting away from the downpipe if ifs moved that far. we have a facia board on the gable end of our garage that stops it moving too far from the downpipe

nickb800

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#2878004 3-Mar-2022 06:51

timmmay:

wally22:

That is an expansion outlet (or expansion dropper if you like) that you have, with the guttering not extending enough into it, as others have said. Expansion products should have a rubberised plastic gasket to allow the gutter to slide over when expanding/contracting. It moves a bit especially in the hot sun. The limit marked is to ensure the spouting doesn't meet when expanding and so buckle. It is not intended to have glue or silicon put in the joint. The gasket does the sealing. The overhang helps to keep the water away from the gasket, flowing it directly into the dropper and downpipe.

To fix it properly. I would recommend a new expansion outlet for about $30 (the mounting bracket is broken on the left of yours) This will ensure it works as designed, if it is installed correctly.

Of course you could just clean it up and move the mounting plate to the right, but treat the gasket with care to preserve it.

There are meant to be gutter brackets very close to the outlet to prevent strain on the expansion outlet by the guttering.

You can download guides from Marley and plumbing/ hardware stores for mounting help.

Very useful, thanks. I didn't notice the cracked mount. If they still make this shape I'll get a new one with a new gasket, push the gutter in further, and make sure it has all the mounting brackets it needs. It's probably been up there about ten years, though the main house has been up there longer and looks fine.

Looks like Marley Stormcloud to me - still made and very common - should be stocked at any hardware store

Bung

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#2878027 3-Mar-2022 08:14

The differences between that outlet and new Stormcloud are price has gone up, the outlet now screws directly to fascia without the clip-on bracket and there's a range of limit lines for spouting depending on temperature (the old line would be for a hot day).

I have Stormcloud, Classic and Flowline profiles in different areas on this house and only Flowline has a rubber seal on the expansion outlet. One 5m length of Flowline just has a dropper cemented in. It doesn't get afternoon sun and there's some clearance at ends.

timmmay

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#2878101 3-Mar-2022 09:23

This is sounding like a pain in the *** to fix. I can take down the expansion thingy with the bit the water falls in, but I wonder if that profile is still available or if I'll then end up replacing the guttering, supports and all if I can't find the right part. I have at least three different profiles of guttering on different parts of the house.

Appreciate the help. It'll be good to get it sorted properly, whether I do it myself now or just bung in some silicone and get a builder / plumber to fix it next time they're about.

MikeAqua

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#2878136 3-Mar-2022 10:22

timmmay:

This is sounding like a pain in the *** to fix. I can take down the expansion thingy with the bit the water falls in, but I wonder if that profile is still available or if I'll then end up replacing the guttering, supports and all if I can't find the right part. I have at least three different profiles of guttering on different parts of the house.

Appreciate the help. It'll be good to get it sorted properly, whether I do it myself now or just bung in some silicone and get a builder / plumber to fix it next time they're about.

Get it all replaced with continuous coloursteel.

Mike

neb

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#2878140 3-Mar-2022 10:32

nickb800:
Looks like Marley Stormcloud to me - still made and very common - should be stocked at any hardware store

If you want about 8m of this, internal clip + downpipe connector, about two years old, we're replacing it with external clip typhoon. Only catch is its about 3m off the ground which means the guys doing the other guttering would need to put up scaffolding, so it's dependent on finding someone willing to do it with a ladder...

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