Why You Need to Maintain Your Gutters
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Do you hate home repairs? I don’t think many of us really like them, but they are a necessary part of owning your own home. One of the most important tasks of maintaining your home is the need to clean your gutters, especially prior to, and even during winter. Clogged and badly maintained gutters can cause you more trouble than you may think.
First let’s understand the purpose of a gutter. Its primary function is to remove moisture away from the house and direct it to a place where it will cause no damage to the home or to the property in general. A badly directed water flow could lead to erosion in the driveway or landscaping and that is no good either.
Failure to maintain your gutters leads to four primary problems:
Gutter damage: If gutters are not properly maintained, then they will eventually become blocked by debris such as leaves and dirt. This debris does not allow water to flow through the gutter, causing it to build up and eventually overflow. The overflow will lead to sagging in the gutter which will cause permanent damage to the gutter itself. Over time, these sections will deteriorate so much that they will break away and leave gaps within your gutter system.
House Damage: By not maintaining your gutters, you actually risk causing damage to your home. There are many ways that water can damage your home. As I mentioned before, if water is not directed away from the home it can seep under the foundation causing erosion. This can lead to the home leaning or cracking, the driveway cracking, or water flowing into your basement, causing flooding or water damage. If the water is overflowing the gutter system, it can run down walls to your home damaging paint, siding, windows, and window frames. Blockages can also lead to the gutter becoming so heavy that they begin to pull away from the house, causing structural damage to the home and roof, where the gutter was attached. This can lead to water coming into the home, damaging the inner walls and insulation. It also can mean that the affected areas may grow mold and cause a health risk to you and your family.
Roof Damage: As I previously mentioned, blockage like this can cause damage to the roof. If the gutter becomes too heavy that it pulls away from the home, it may also pull away shingles and other roofing materials, causing a leak in your home. This will allow water to enter the home. But this is not the only problem the roof may face. If the water builds up in the gutter, so that it runs under the roof, it may cause rotting. Rotting may lead to the roof collapsing, especially if you live in an area where it is below freezing during the winter. If water is allowed to back up onto the roof and cause rotting, when that water later freezes, it will be heavier and is more likely to cause the roof to give way, leading to very expensive amount of damage.
Unexpected Damage: Not properly maintaining your gutters also has consequences you may not have considered. If you live in a cold weather area, water that accumulates in areas near your home may become frozen, which can lead to injuries from slipping and falling. Water build-up is a great breeding ground for mosquitoes and mold, and can lead to health problems. It also will attract insects that need a moist environment. Those animals may cause other problems to your home, like raccoons getting into your garbage, or squirrels building nests in your walls.
This clearly shows you why it is so important to have your gutters cleaned. It is well worth the investment to make sure you clean your gutters well.