Learning All About Cleaning Crews

Posted on: 12 November 2020

Clean gutters may not seem like a big deal, but when gutters are clogged with leaves, serious consequences can result. Here are three reasons to clean your gutters out every year or hire a gutter cleaning service to do it for you.

1. Clogged Gutters Prevent Proper Roof Drainage

Gutters tend to get clogged the most in the late fall when trees shed their leaves. If your gutters go into winter with the troughs full of leaves, water from melting snow and ice won't be able to drain from the roof properly. Water that's held in the troughs due to a clog can freeze and create an even bigger clog. Plus, the weight of the ice that keeps building up could cause the gutters to sag.

Drainage problems can happen in the spring too. This might be due to clogs and damage caused during the winter, or it could be due to spring tree debris that floats through the air as trees develop their leaves. This often coincides with periods of heavy spring rains. If the gutters are clogged up with tree debris, the rain may not drain away from the roof. When rain backs up under the roof, water damage can occur to the roof and your house.

2. Overflowing Gutters Cause Foundation Damage

Your gutters are designed to protect the roof of your house and the foundation. Gutters protect the foundation by moving water away from your house. Otherwise, the rain would roll off the roof and land near the foundation. When your gutters clog up, rain spills over the sides of the troughs and sinks into the soil near your house. This could lead to a wet basement or even damage to your foundation if the problem goes on long enough.

3. Rotting Leaves In The Gutters Attract Pests

If you've ever turned over a pile of wet leaves in your yard, you probably saw different kinds of insects scurry around. Certain insects are drawn to wet and rotting leaves found in a gutter clog. When insects such as roaches invade your gutters, they are mere inches away from your house and can get inside through gaps or tiny holes in your fascia, soffit, or siding. Insects attract birds and other animals.

Squirrels might even be attracted to your gutters if they want to dig out seeds or other tasty food that has accumulated. The weight of a squirrel might be enough to cause your gutter trough to shift and stop draining properly.

Any of these three problems can cause expensive damage to your home that can be prevented by cleaning out your gutters on time. However, you don't have to stress about not having time to clean the gutters yourself since a gutter cleaning service can handle the job for you and protect your home from damage.