1. Prevent Water Damage in Your Walls.
One of the biggest issues with backed-up gutters is the damage that can occur to your home. When debris such as leaves, twigs, and dirt gets stuck in your gutters, rainwater has nowhere to go and may seep through your walls and roof, causing damage and even creating mold and mildew. Eventually, the damage can even extend to your foundation, basement, and other parts of your home.
2. Protect Your Foundation
As mentioned above, gutters keep water away from your home, which is vital to protecting it. Without gutters, water can:
Run down your walls and infiltrate your foundation. Pool around your foundation and eventually erode the soil underneath
Compromise your foundation, causing it to shift and crack
3. Prevent Basement Flooding
Overflowing water from sagging or blocked gutters can also flood your basement, creating yet another safety hazard. This is obviously a problem for a number of reasons:
It’s a serious safety hazardI. It can damage your property, furniture, and personal items. It can cause mold
4. Prevent Roof Damage
Another place that tends to suffer from water damage is your roof. If water is forced to go under shingles or seep through cracks, here’s what can happen:
5. It can cause considerable deterioration to your roof and fascia
Your roof can also become moldy, which can significantly shorten its lifespan if you don’t deal with it immediately
6. Prevent Mold and Mildew
We’ve mentioned mold and mildew above already, but they deserve a deeper explanation because they can cause serious health problems and be a nuisance to deal with for a number of reasons.
Mold and mildew can appear anywhere in your home where there’s moisture. So if your gutters are clogged and causing leakages into any part of your home, mold and mildew can quickly become a problem.
7. Reduce Fire Hazards
Leaves, twigs, sticks, and other debris in your gutters (or anywhere on your property, for that matter) can dry out and ignite from lightning, embers from a grill, or a nearby brush fire. Regularly cleaning your gutters helps reduce the risk of a fire starting on your property.
8. Keep Your Gutters Functioning Properly
Stagnant water in your gutters can become heavy and affect their condition as well. Gutters need to be pitched slightly to allow water to flow toward downspouts and away from your house. But excessive debris in your gutter system can:
Make it sag, making it less effective at directing water away from your home
Cause rainwater trenches, which are essentially pools of excess water that can leak into your foundation and basement
Make your gutters fall off
Regular cleaning can prevent this and keep your gutters functioning properly. Where the damage isn’t severe, you may be able to replace your gutters in part. However, if the damage is extensive, it may be necessary to replace the entire system.
Stagnant water, leaves, and other debris in clogged gutters invite insects, birds, squirrels, and other animals to nest and find shelter. This can damage your home’s exterior and create health hazards. Regular maintenance of your gutters helps keep unwanted guests away and protect your home.
FAQ
How often should you clean gutters?
In general, you should clean your gutters at least twice a year. However, this number depends on a variety of factors, such as how many trees you have in your area. Check your gutters regularly and clean them as needed.
Final Thoughts
Who would have thought that debris in your gutters could lead to a series of problems? That’s why it’s important to clean your gutters regularly. You may also want to consider adding extensions to your downspouts to direct water further away from your home’s foundation.
