And How Labor Panes Can Help Avoid Them
At the most basic level, gutters are troughs that sit at the edge of your roof to carry off any rainwater. However, when they’re not functioning properly, your home could become vulnerable to a number of long-term damages. Clogged gutters caused by a buildup of dust, leaves, and debris can starkly slow or stop drainage, so it’s important to take preventive action and get them cleaned on a routine basis. When asking how often to clean gutters, consider where you live, how much foliage surrounds your home, and how frequently you experience clogged gutters. If you’re still unsure, please contact Labor Panes for a free quote and we’d be happy to set up a maintenance schedule through our Paneless Planning program. But for now, check out four long-term effects that clogged gutters could cause.
1. Interior Wall and Ceiling Damage
One of the most important issues you could run into when dealing with clogged gutters is that the excess water could rot the fascia board—the mounted point where the roof meets your home’s siding. This could make it easier for water to enter your home’s interior and could lead to wall and ceiling damage, particularly to your top floor if you live in a two-story home. The best way to avoid fascia board rot is to maintain the normal flow of water by assessing how often to clean gutters and establishing a yearly cleaning schedule.
2. Exterior Home Damage
When clogged gutters are weighed down by slow moving water, mud, and leaves, it puts unnecessary pressure on the fascia boards and soffits. If the burden is too heavy to bear, the gutter could detach and bring part of your home’s exterior with it. This potentially devastating and costly damage is easily avoided when you remove excess debris from clogged gutters.
3. Leaking and Draining Issues
If you’ve already experienced draining or leaking issues in your foundation, clogged gutters could only make the problem worse. In fact, it can cause water to pool around the foundation rather than discharging it in the proper way, dispelling a steady flow of water away from the area. If your foundation is susceptible to leaks, you should consider unclogging your gutters to alleviate the issue.
4. Wintertime Ice Buildup
Live in an area where winters are a bit more cold and wet? During harsh winter months, leaving clogged gutters untouched can be hazardous. Ice can easily collect around the gutter discharge, leading to slippery conditions around high-traffic areas like walkways and driveways. Additionally, ice build up can stop gutter drainage and prevent snow from melting and exiting properly. Then, the snow turns to ice on the roof and increases the build up. Often, this leads to leaks in the interior of your home and causes much more costly repairs.
At the end of the day, learning how often to clean gutters and understanding the value of routine maintenance to prevent clogged gutters will save you a lot of money and aggravation. Professional gutter cleaning will undoubtedly be more cost effective than paying for repairs to your home’s foundation, roof, ceiling, or walls. And, if you live in a home that experiences a high volume of debris and foliage year-round, reach out to us and see if gutter guards are a fitting solution to a persistent problem.
