We all dread it, and we all put it off for as long as we can, but ensuring your gutters are cleaned is highly important for the health and value of your home. We have talked about the importance of cleaning your home’s gutters and downspouts but let’s point out the issues clogged gutters and downspouts will cause if you don’t clean them out.
The purpose of a gutter is to carry water away from a building to a suitable drainage area. If gutters are not cleaned, the material will build up in the gutter channel, and water will overflow onto the structure and foundation. It would be best to clean gutters by scooping debris and rinsing the drain with a hose. If you find gutter cleaning services expensive, there are still a lot of affordable gutters cleaning around your local area and try to find one.
Your gutters are an essential part of your roofing system. They benefit your home in many ways, and when they’re not clean, your home can sustain damage from your roof to your foundation. Here are five problems that can result from clogged and dirty gutters.
Foundation Damage
If gutters are not cleaned and water overflows from them, it will fall along the foundation of the building. It can soften the soil under and around, leading to foundation cracks. Also, if the foundation is wet and then freezes, this will cause heaving and cracks. In extreme cases, water damage can cause structural failure in a building.
- Rotted Wood
If gutters are clogged, water will overflow onto the building and trap in the drain after rain. This moisture will cause rot in wood fascia and soffit boards (the wood near where gutters are attached). This wood rot can spread to adjacent areas, such as the attic, and provides an easy point of entry for rodents.
2. Roof Leaks
If gutters do not drain properly, they will build up ice in them during the winter. It will keep melted snow from draining off the roof properly and keep that water and wet snow against the house. Often, that water will migrate into the house, resulting in ceiling leaks, wall leaks, and moisture in the attic.
3. Insect Infestation
The debris in gutters, exceptionally when moist, is a beautiful habitat for insects. Insects will be attracted to the inside of the house when the weather changes, which can lead to insect infestation. Also, wood-eating insects such as termites and carpenter ants attract rotting leaves and branches that collect in gutters, so not cleaning gutters can infest those damaging pests.
4. Basement Leaks
Just as clogged gutters can damage a building’s foundation by allowing water to collect close to the structure’s base, this water can also infiltrate basement walls. When water contains in large quantities against a basement wall, it is almost inevitable that it will find its way into the basement. If water does leak into the basement, this can cause black mold, smells, water damage, and flooding.
5. Landscape Damage
The water that falls from obstructed gutters can kill plants and grass living below. When those plants die, their roots no longer contribute to holding the soil in place. The water will then wash away exposed topsoil and sand. If left alone long enough, this erosion can etch away the landscape under the clogged gutter and leave a ditch.