11/06/2025
Important reasons to maintain your eavestroughs
Before the winter season:
Prevent Ice Dams
Clogged eavestroughs prevent melting snow from draining properly off the roof. The trapped water freezes when temperatures drop, forming a ridge of ice called an ice dam at the roof's edge. This dam forces subsequent meltwater to back up under the roof shingles, leading to:
•Roof Leaks that can damage to your interior walls, ceilings, and insulation, potentially causing mold growth.
•Added Weight from the ice and snow, which puts significant strain on your gutters and roof structure, potentially causing the gutters to sag, pull away from the house, or collapse entirely.
•Dangerous Icicles which form from overflowing water and pose a safety hazard to people and pets below.
Protects Your Home's Foundation and Basement
When eavestroughs are clogged, water overflows and pools around the foundation of your home. During the winter's freeze-thaw cycles, this water repeatedly freezes and expands, leading to:
•Cracked Foundation as the expanding ice puts pressure on the concrete.
•Basement Flooding when the water eventually seeps through foundation cracks.
•Soil Erosion around the base of the house, which can destabilize concrete footings.
