Cleaning out your gutter, albeit not exactly glamorous, is a very important job. You will probably get dirty, you will probably get wet, and you will definitely have to move your ladder around a lot. If you don’t have the time or energy to clean it yourself, you can call a professional gutter cleaning service company to do a quick, effective job for you at a reasonable price. Overflowing gutters can compromise the structural integrity of your house, the health of those who live there and can cause costly damage.
Here are the problems you may face from a clogged gutter at home.
Roof Damage
Probably the first problem you would think of, if you let your gutters overfill, is that rainwater won’t be drained properly and will flow out of the gutter in all directions. One of the ways water will flow is onto your roof; water pooling on a roof is bad news, hence the majority of roofs are sloped.
Clogged gutters are also a lot heavier than empty ones, especially when saturated with rainwater. This can cause further damage to the roof fascia board. This board runs behind the gutter, holds it in place and protects the edges of your roof. If it is damaged, it may be pulled away from the roof or even crack under pressure.
Pests
A full gutter is dark, damp and cold; the perfect home to many unwanted critters and pests. A bed of damp leaves is an alluring prospect to birds, mosquitos, rodents, and plenty more uninvited guests. Clogged gutters also promote the growth of mold.
Damage To Your Foundation
The foundation of your home is an integral part of your home. If it gets damaged enough, you may lose your home, and at the very least, it will be expensive to repair. If there is too much water in the soil around the foundation, caused by overflowing gutters, the water will be under immense pressure and may find its way into the tiny cracks of your foundation. The water can then carry out small bits of concrete with it or even freeze, thus expanding the cracks.
Saturated Siding
The walls of your home are designed to withstand splashing and rainfall, however, it is not totally waterproof. If there is too much water leaking, some will find its way behind the siding and inside the walls of your home. This can then cause structural damage to the house or allow the growth of mold on your walls.
What Do I Do About It?
Fortunately, regular maintenance works as a great preventative medicine and could end up saving you a lot of money in the long run. Ensure that you schedule gutter cleaning as part of your routine, to prevent any of the above problems from occurring.
To make things simple, you can hire the professionals to take care of this regular maintenance. If you choose to do it on your own, it is important that you are equipped with the right skills and knowledge before doing anything, as safety always comes first.