Like death and taxes, gutter cleaning is an unavoidable part of homeownership. Neglecting this task can lead to clogged gutters, which can damage your roof and foundation.
Gutter Cleaning should be performed twice a year—once in spring and once in fall. Read on to learn why you should consider hiring a professional gutter cleaner to do the job for you.
The purpose of gutters is to channel rainwater away from the house and into storm drains or landscaping. If the gutters are clogged, they can’t do this and water will just run off the roof and down the walls, damaging the siding and causing basement flooding in some cases. Gutters that are clogged also allow water to pool, which can damage the roofing shingles and lead to wood rot underneath the roof. Water leaking through the ceiling can leave unsightly stains and create a mold problem inside the home.
A clogged gutter can also ruin the aesthetic of your home’s exterior and harm your landscape. The standing water created by a clogged gutter can damage your plants, wash away mulch and kill your shrubs and flowers. This can also cause soil erosion and wash away the stones in your landscaping. The clogged gutter can even cause the foundation of your home to erode, putting the structure at risk of cracking and crumbling.
Clogged gutters can also invite mosquitoes, which love the swampy environment of stagnant gutter water. Standing water around the gutter can also attract termites, which are another insect that loves moist, damp environments.
Performing regular visual inspections of your gutters and downspouts can help you spot problems before they become serious. Look for sagging gutters that are carrying too much water and downspouts that are overflowing during heavy rains. Look for rust on downspouts and downspouts, which can indicate corrosion, as well as moss and mold growth on the gutters. Also, check for stains on the siding, which could indicate standing water.
Clogged gutters can cause many different problems for your home and yard, so it’s important to maintain a regular cleaning schedule. If you have a lot of trees on your property, it’s a good idea to clean your gutters twice per year, once in the spring and once in the fall. A good rule of thumb is to start the cleaning process when the trees on your property stop producing debris such as buds, seed pods, oak tassels and ragweed.
Clogged Gutters Can Cause Basement Flooding
Gutters and downspouts are designed to catch the rainwater that runs off your roof during a storm and then direct it away from your home. However, when they become clogged with debris, the water can overflow and spill out of the gutters, flooding your basement.
Overflowing gutters can also damage your roof and cause other costly problems for your home, including rot, mold, and foundation issues. In order to keep your gutters functioning properly, you should have them cleaned regularly. A professional gutter cleaner can help you develop a maintenance schedule that is best for your needs and environment.
In addition to causing problems for your home’s structure, clogged gutters can also be a safety hazard for your family. When the gutters overflow, they can become filled with leaves, branches, dirt, and other debris that can fall on or against your home. If someone happens to be underneath them when this occurs, they could be seriously injured.
Lastly, clogged gutters can be an attractive hangout for pests and rodents. The leaves and debris that collect in the gutters make a great hiding place for rats, mice, squirrels, birds, and other unwanted creatures. These pests can cause a lot of damage to your home, and they may even chew through your shingles or fascia boards. Gutter cleaning prevents pest infestations by keeping the gutters free from debris that would attract them.
When gutters are clean, they can easily channel the rainwater away from your foundation. But when they are clogged, the water can overflow and flood the area around your foundation, causing cracks and shifting in the soil. This can lead to severe foundation damage and even basement flooding.
To keep the rainwater flowing freely, you should have your gutters cleaned regularly. A professional gutter cleaner can use a power washer to remove any standing water and to flush out the gutters. They can also install downspout extenders to make sure that the water is being channeled away from your foundation. This can greatly reduce your risk of basement flooding caused by clogged gutters.
Clogged Gutters Can Damage Your Siding
When clogged gutters overflow, the accumulated debris can damage your home’s siding. The rotting wood can cause cracks and peeling, which can significantly decrease your home’s curb appeal. This deterioration can also lead to leaks that can damage the interior of your house and create mold and mildew.
Gutters that aren’t clean will also damage your landscaping, as water that can’t flow properly through the gutters will overflow and flood into your yard. Over time, this can damage plants and cause erosion that ruins your landscape.
While regular cleaning and maintenance of your gutter system can help prevent clogging, the most effective solution is to schedule biannual gutter cleanings. These cleanings are essential if you live in an area that gets frequent rain storms, as well as if you have nearby trees.
During these gutter cleanings, you’ll need a ladder that can support your weight and a set of tools to help you remove the debris. For safety, it’s a good idea to work with someone else to assist you. They can hold the ladder and keep it stable, as well as hand you tools when needed. Ladder stabilizers are available for most standard extension ladders to make the job much safer. You should also wear thick gloves and protective eyewear to reduce the risk of injury to your hands, eyes, and skin. A small hand rake or garden trowel, a plastic scooping tool, and a bucket or grocery bag will also be helpful for collecting the debris and removing it from your home’s gutters.
Leaking gutters can rot the fascia and shingle ridge boards of your roof. In addition, they can corrode the metal fasteners that secure the gutters to the house, and eventually cause the gutters to pull away from the fascia. Over time, this can leave the fascia exposed to rain and wind, which can further damage it. Cascading water from leaking gutters can also wreak havoc on your sidewalks and driveways, which will eventually become damaged and cracked. This can not only sabotage your home’s curb appeal, but can be a major inconvenience and even a safety hazard.
Clogged Gutters Can Damage Your Foundation
Gutter systems help to channel water and ice away from the foundation of your house. They prevent water from seeping into basements, damaging the walls and ceilings, destroying or rotting wood structures, and promoting the growth of mildew and mold. However, if the gutters are clogged with leaves, twigs, and debris, they may not function properly. This can lead to the water flowing over and flooding areas around your home, causing damage.
Clogged gutters aren’t just an eyesore. They can also be a safety hazard and potentially damage your foundation. When rainwater cascades down the gutter, it can erode the soil beneath and around the foundation. This can cause the foundation to crack and shift, or even deteriorate to the point where it can start to lean.
In addition, clogged gutters can create leaky basements and cause damage to the siding, fascia, and roof of your home. Over time, this can lead to costly repair bills. In addition, the leaking water can cause unsightly mud puddles in front of your house and rot the wood components of your gutter system.
The main reason to clean your gutters is to avoid structural damage. Gutters are designed to channel the rainwater away from your roof, so it doesn’t come into contact with the foundation of your building. However, if the gutters are blocked or clogged, the rainwater can flood the area and erode the soil underneath. This can cause the foundation to crack and weaken, and it can also lead to a number of other problems, including mould, mildew, and rust.
The best way to prevent clogged gutters is by cleaning them regularly. To do this, start by removing the leaves and other debris from your gutters using a trowel or scoop. Then, rinse the gutters with a hose to remove any remaining debris. Afterwards, inspect your gutters to make sure they’re clear and draining properly. If they aren’t, then you should consider hiring a professional to clean your gutters and downspouts. They can also inspect your roof to look for any signs of damage and ensure that the gutters are directing water and ice away from your home’s foundation.