Gutters are an important part of your home’s exterior. They work with your roof to direct rain and melting snow away from your house. Not only does this keep your home safe, but it also keeps water from leaking into various areas of your house where it could flood, rot wooden structures, and cause mold. No one likes to clean out their gutters, but it’s a necessary task that you should do regularly.
Here are seven reasons gutter cleaning is important and why you should hire a local gutter cleaning company to clean your gutters regularly:
1. Gutters prevent water damage
Gutters can be a great asset to your home. But if they aren’t cleaned regularly, they can also become a nightmare. Clogged gutters prevent proper drainage and can cause extensive damage to your home’s interior and exterior. Water that’s allowed to sit in clogged gutters can seep behind the fascia board and into the soffit or siding.
This leads to rotting wood, which can compromise the structural integrity of your roofline. It also allows moisture to build up in your attic and walls where mold can develop. This is hazardous for everyone in the house, especially if there are small children or people with asthma or allergies.
2. Gutters keep water away from the foundation
If gutters are not properly maintained, they can lead to water spilling over their edges and forming pools at the foundation of your home. Water pooling at the foundation weakens its structure. Water seeping into cracks in the foundation can be even more damaging. Over time, this can cause the soil around your foundation to erode and even allow water to seep into your basement.
All these issues can be extremely costly to repair, so it is important to make sure that gutters are functioning properly and are cleaned regularly. That way, they remain effective at controlling the flow of rainwater or melted snow away from the foundation of your home, which protects both your home and its foundation from unnecessary wear.
3. Gutters ward off pests
Gutters that are full of leaves and debris provide the perfect breeding ground for unwanted insects such as mosquitoes and termites. Cleaning out your gutters will prevent these pests from gaining access to your roofline and making their way into your attic space, soffits, and downspouts where they can cause further damage or even spread diseases such as West Nile virus or malaria.
Rodents, including rats, are drawn to the warmth of your house, but they’re also attracted to the moist environment of a clogged gutter. Animal nests or bird droppings may also make their way into your gutters. If left unchecked, these pests can cause significant damage to your property, potentially leading to a costly repair job.
4. Gutters prevent roof damage
Even though not all types of roofing materials are susceptible to weather-related issues, it’s always best to protect your home by keeping your gutters clean. When your gutters become clogged, the water that should be traveling through your gutters to drain away from your home is forced to travel around the obstruction, causing water to accumulate in your gutters. This water then overflows, traveling down your roof and into your attic or house.
The water that travels down your roof can damage your roof and cause leaks. By preventing excessive rainwater from flowing directly down onto a building’s roof and instead channeling it away from the building’s structural components, gutters can help prevent roof damage, which may result in expensive roof repair expenses.
5. Gutters protect your home’s value
Protect your home’s value and the curb appeal of your home by having your gutters cleaned to remove the unsightly debris and leaves. This will improve how your home looks, providing better curb appeal. Clogged gutters also affect the overall value of your home, which is one of the biggest concerns for home buyers. Clogged gutters can lower the appeal of your home, which can cause you to lose potential home buyers.
Also, if water pools in front of a house as a result of a clogged gutter, it can indicate a bigger problem with the house. This can deter prospective buyers who may want to avoid purchasing a home with potential problems.
6. Gutters prevent soil erosion
Water runoff isn’t just a problem for your home; it can also be bad for your lawn. When rainwater falls on sloped ground, it naturally washes across the surface. If left unchecked, this runoff can erode soil in areas where you don’t want it to happen. By diverting the course of this rainwater with gutters, you can prevent erosion from happening or worsening.
7. Gutters prevent ice dams in cold-weather climates
In colder climates, clogged gutters can be a nightmare when cold weather strikes. Gutters can help prevent ice dams, which form when heat from your home melts the underside of snow on your roof. The melted water runs down until it reaches a cold section of the roof and refreezes, forming a dam. The water behind the dam can seep under shingles and into your home, causing water damage to walls or ceilings.
Conclusion
Gutters protect your home from moisture, but the accumulation of debris and leaves can lead to water buildup that can lead to leaks and damage. Gutter problems can start small and, if not taken care of early on, cause severe damage to your home. With regular cleaning and maintenance, you can keep your home safe from many of the problems associated with clogged gutters.