Homeownership comes with many wonderful perks, like painting your home any color, or letting your pet run wild without hearing from the building manager. But, there are some less enjoyable aspects of homeownership. The main one is that the responsibility to care for every part of your home now rests solely on your shoulders. If your toilet starts leaking or the back door handle breaks, it's up to you to solve the problem. One essential home maintenance duty is proper gutter cleaning. There are numerous consequences of clogged gutters, but here are five reasons why your home benefits from well-maintained gutters.
Extend Your Home's Lifespan
Homeownership is a big responsibility. When people buy their first home, they often only think about the listing price of their home without considering all of the varying costs that come along with homeownership. The cost of foundation repairs or a new roof or can be quite substantial, not to mention unexpected. A clogged gutter system that does not allow water to drain freely away from the roof and the home's foundation can lead to extensive damage to these elements, and costly repairs. A clogged drainage system can also result in basement flooding, an unnecessary and costly disaster. Gutter maintenance is a small price to pay to avoid big ticket repairs down the road.
Prevent Ice Build Up
One of the best ways to keep your roof damage-free is by cleaning the gutters routinely. In the winter months, clogged gutters may trap ice. This can lead to a lot of additional weight and stress being put on the home's roof. Also, clogged gutters will not drain properly, which can lead to water lingering on the roof. If this water freezes, it can cause shingle damage and roof leaks. Free-flowing gutters and downspouts keep water moving and stops it from freezing on your roof and in your gutters.
Prevent Pests
Clean gutters ensure that your home doesn’t welcome uninvited guests, like mosquitos and other pests. Mosquitos love standing water. By removing it, you also remove their perfect habitat. Ants and termites are happy burrowing in piles of debris as well, so by keeping gutters clean you’re also making sure they aren’t an unwelcome addition to your home.
Protect your Landscape
It might seem like a small detail compared to a potential cracked foundation or damaged roof, but a clear gutter system can save your lawn. If you've put significant time and effort into taking good care of your yard, clean gutters will help protect your hard work. Water spilling off in random places because of a clogged gutter will quickly ruin your meticulous landscaping.
Finally, Gutter Cleaning Saves Money
Some people try to clean their gutters themselves, but oftentimes they don’t fully appreciate the scope of the job. Professionals know how to deal with the potential hazards associated with clogged gutters and they can do so safely. Don't risk slipping off a ladder (or worse, falling off a roof). Let a trained and experienced team take care of the problem with regular gutter maintenance.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happens if you don't clean out your home's gutters?
The gutters and downspouts will get clogged with debris, which allows for water to collect on the roof and overflow. This can lead to damage to the roof, fascia, siding, foundation, or landscaping.
How do you know if your gutters need cleaning?
Look for signs of standing water around your home, sagging gutters, overflowing water from the gutter system, and signs that birds or insects have begun living and breeding in your gutter system. All of these are telltale signs that your gutters are clogged.
How often should you clean gutters?
Generally, we recommend cleaning your gutters twice a year to flush out spring and fall foliage. This is to ensure that during the winter and summer months your gutter system won’t be compromised with leaves and debris.
What does cleaning the gutters mean?
Cleaning a gutter system entails removing leaves, debris, and other build up as well as checking fittings and connections for any necessary repairs. Professionals will also wipe down the gutter system so that when they leave, it looks nice as well.
Get a free quote for all your gutter cleaning needs.