02/28/2022
As a homeowner, gutter maintenance becomes easy to overlook—especially since it's not the most fun activity for an afternoon. People tend to procrastinate or forget about cleaning their gutters until it becomes too late.
But, keeping your gutter clean is essential for a safe and long-lasting home. Not doing so can end up leading to significant and costly headaches. While it may be an inconvenience for a couple of hours, the effort is well worth it in the long run.
What Happens If You Don't Clean Your Gutters?
When it comes to gutters, everything can seem fine—until it's not. When you dismiss caring for your gutter, suddenly, the years add up, and you realize you have a big problem on your hands. Depending on the damage, it may be too late, and you'll have to replace the gutter altogether.
But, all hope is not lost! You can prevent getting to that point by knowing what kind of consequences you might face if you leave this chore unchecked.
Leakage
When you don't clean your gutters, the downspout can get clogged from leaves, debris, or any matter that can wind up there. This blockage then leaves standing water to collect and eventually overflow.
Mold
Left unattended to, the leaves that clog up your gutter can begin to decompose and eventually rot. In a wet climate, like in the Pacific Northwest, mold will start to grow and thrive, leaving the exterior of your gutter blackened and looking filthy. Even worse, this mold can lead to a slew of health problems if it enters your house, and getting rid of it is expensive and inconvenient.
Roof Damage
You might not realize that neglecting your gutters can even lead to replacing your entire roof—which is no small or cheap feat. When you have a clogged gutter, rainwater has nowhere left to go but overflow or soak through your shingles and leak into your home. Your shingles then become softened and significantly damaged, allowing for more leakage from rainfall.
The weight of the rainwater can also cause the gutter to rip and damage your roof. Not only would you have to replace your roof and gutter, but you may have to deal with water damage within your home.
Bugs, Insects, and Pests
When leaves decompose, it starts to attract unwanted tenants like bugs, pests, and other critters. The rotting leaves are a rich and accessible food source that draws in all sorts of pests to your gutter—making them one step closer to entering your home.
Driveway Destruction
Another consequence you might not even realize is that a clogged gutter can lead to destruction to your driveway and yard. When there's poor drainage, the excess water can pool up and cause mold growth on your driveway. In the winter months, that water could freeze and turn into ice that causes dangerous slips and falls.
While all of these outcomes might terrify you, know that you're still ahead of the problem. Now that you know what could happen when you neglect gutter maintenance, here you can learn how to spot potential damage.
How Do You Find Damage From Unclean Gutters?
While the best first line of defence is cleaning your gutters routinely, there are a few warning signs you can look out for to make sure that the problem doesn't progress to something more serious.
Age: How old are your gutters? Typically gutters only last 15-20 years until you need to replace them. Depending on how old it is, it might be more susceptive to damage if you don't do routine checks.
Pooling: If you notice pools of water around your lawn or driveway, you may be experiencing some drainage issues from your gutter.
Water inside: A key indicator that you might have some water drainage or leakage issue is finding it inside the home.
Dripping gutters: When gutters drip or water doesn't flow through properly, it's almost a surefire sign of a clogged pipe.
When Should You Clean Your Gutters
So really, how often should you clean your gutters? Most professionals recommend you to have your gutters inspected at least 1-2 times a year in the spring and fall.
Give us a call today for your free estimate.
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At Gutter Girls, we get dirty for you. We offer gutter cleaning, window and solar panel cleaning and pressure washing, all at competitive prices.
