11/17/2021
Leaves, sticks, debris, and dust make gutters susceptible to clogging. Clogged gutters prevent the proper flow of rainwater and could create a variety of problems to your home causing thousands of dollars in water damage repairs. Cleaning your gutters, once a year, will help in keeping them in good working conditions and save you thousands from costly repairs. In addition, although cleaning your gutters looks like a job you can do on your own, it is wise to hire a professional who has the right tools and expertise for cleaning them.
Here are some reasons why it is wise to clean your gutters on a yearly basis:
1. Clogged gutters impede the proper flow of water, causing rainwater to overflow. This overflow of water could eventually damage your roofing system, attic, interior walls, basement, flower beds, and your home’s foundation. Undetected water overflow that runs into the roofing system and deep into your walls leads to the presence of mold that could eventually weaken and destroy everything it grows on.
2. Standing water and debris accumulation in gutters can create the perfect environment for pests. Standing water is the perfect breeding ground for mosquitoes and clogged gutters facilitate the establishment of such environment. Also, debris accumulation can be the perfect place for mice and birds to nest in, for squirrels to hide their food, and for ants such as the odorous house ant to form their colonies. In rare occasions, termite colonies have been found breeding under the debris of clogged gutters.
3. Ice dams are more likely to occur due to clogged gutters. When the flow of water from the melting roof snow is obstructed and then it freezes, it will create an ice dam. As the snow continues to melt and freeze, it’ll pool melting water and then force it under the shingles and eventually create a roof leak. During a year of above normal snowfall, roof leaks pose a greater risk to your home.
