Dirty, disregarded gutters can pose a far bigger threat than just clogged downspouts. Leaves and twigs in your gutters are more harmful than you think. A simple gutter cleaning twice a year can help you avoid costly home repairs. Below are just a few side effects of the commonly overlooked gutter cleaning chore:
Trouble Down Under Clogged gutters are the number one cause of basement water problems. When water doesn’t drain off your roof properly, it can accumulate around the foundation, leading to foundation cracking and water seeping into your basement. The foundation is especially susceptible to cracking in the cold winter months when the water build-up can freeze, causing “frost-heave”.
Wood You Rather… Would you rather spend a little on getting your gutters cleaned or spend a lot of replacing rotting wood around your home? Overflowing gutters can cause moisture damage to the wood around the roof of your home. If not eliminated, this sitting water can cause costly wood rotting.
Let it Snow! During the winter months, water sitting in clogged gutters will freeze, forming ice dams. Snow then builds up over the top of the ice and freezes. During the next thaw, water running off the roof is blocked by the frozen snow and backs up into the house, leading to severe wall and ceiling damage.
Slip Sliding Away Overflowing gutters can cause water to be deposited on walks and driveways. When the temperature drops, this water will freeze, leading to a tripping hazard.
April Showers Will Not Bring May Flowers When gutters and downspouts do not drain water properly, the overflow can end up all over your yard. Overflowing gutters can lead to severe erosion, killing any new plants or trees. If cleaning your gutters every 6 months is an unrealistic goal for you, there are many types of gutter guards available. But even with a guard, your gutters should still be inspected every so often, and you should be mindful of signs of clogging.
