Cleaning your gutters might not seem like a pleasant task but it is important. Clogged gutters fail to do their job, that is to protect your home. If you have clogged gutters, you can contract other problems like water damage and leaky roofs. Clogged gutters are also the home of mold, rodents, and pests which can turn into a health concern if left untreated. With this in mind, here are 11 reasons why you should go for the cleaning of gutters.
Prevent Water Damage to Your Home
It is recommended to clean your gutters thoroughly twice a year to avoid water damage. Water damage due to clogged gutters can take place both outside and inside your home.
Extra water can easily travel into your home via cracks and crevices into the siding and cause a considerable amount of water damage. This water damage is sometimes visible as stains on your ceiling and walls. Clogged downspouts and gutters can push water through the structure of your home. This can easily lead to even more foundational problems such as ice dams.
Reduce the Risk of Cracked Foundation
The gutter system of your home plays a big role in protecting it from damage. It acts as a guard against pooled water during rains. Gutters also help in moving any collected water and melt the snow away from your home. This enables your gutters to protect the foundation of your house against leakages and cracks due to a collection of stagnant water. Pooling water and erosion can weaken the base of your house and lead to settles, shifting, and cracks. A cracked foundation can easily make your floors and walls uneven and need the help of a professional. This means that by cleaning out your gutters you are saving a considerable amount of money each year by not dealing with these problems.
Ward Off Pests
Clogged gutters are the paradise for rodents and pests which can carry diseases into your home. They can cause serious health problems to your family. You will have to deal with other damages caused by pest infestations such as bad odor. If you ignore cleaning your gutters, you are letting the problem get bigger and it will need major costs in terms of repairing.
Protect Your Roof
If your gutters are clogged, it essentially means that your house has no proper way to drain the water. This might cause the water from snow and rain to get into your roof and cause water leaks. These water leaks can not only cause damage to the interior of your home but can also rot your roof. Repairing the entire roofing system means hiring the services of a professional.
Avoid Fascia Damage
Clogged gutters will start to hold water. Between the weight of the debris that clogs your gutters and the mounting water, your gutters can get very heavy. This might make your gutter break away from the fascia and cause damage to your roofing system.
Protect Garden Beds from Damage
Many people spend a lot of time, energy, and money on maintaining garden beds around their homes. If your gutters are clogged and are overflowing with water, this water can seep into your garden and ruin all your hard work. When water flows sideways instead of down a downspout, it can even kill your plants.
Improve Curb Appeal
Cleaning your gutters can be a major selling point for your home. Well kept and clean gutters give your home a neat look without any distractions. Your gutters can easily blend in with the rest of your house as you would want them to. Clean and maintained gutters add a good look to your home while reducing any other damages such as water stains on the sides, uprooted landscaping, and saggy gutters. If you plan on selling your home or if you just want to maintain a good look, clean gutters can go a long way.
Prevent Basement Flooding
Clogged gutters can cause water to collect right in the foundation of your home. This can easily cause water to seep down and accumulate in your basement. If the landscaping of your home slopes inwards, basement flooding can happen almost immediately. You should ensure that your downspouts and gutters are clean. You should even consider replacing them as needed.
Extend Gutter Lifespan
Clogged gutters can collect debris and pool water, which can cause them to get damaged due to the increasing weight. It can also lead to corrosion and rusting and shorten the overall lifespan of your gutters. When maintained properly, gutters can last up to 50 years based on the material used. Downspouts can even last longer with an average lifespan of 50 years.
Prevent Ice Dams
Ice dams are formed with the accumulation of snow on your roof. When this snow has no place to go, it can let water collect under shingles, and move the moisture to the soffits, fascia, and roof of your home. Icicles can even form with the added weight that your gutters are unable to handle. This leads to detached gutters that can damage the fascia.
Prevent Unexpected (and Expensive) Repairs
Clogged gutters invite multiple problems all of which need the services of a professional. You can save yourself from these expensive and unexpected repairs by simply cleaning your gutters.
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