Gutter cleaning is an important part of roof maintenance and home improvement. Having a clean and debris-free gutter improves your home’s appearance and prevents damage to your foundation. Sadly, most of us tend to sweep gutter cleaning under the rug.
Yes, it’s dirty work, but everybody has to do it. When you disregard your gutters, more debris will accumulate there, and you won’t notice the damage until water starts overflowing. Leaking and damaged gutters can ruin your home’s structural foundation and cost you a fortune in repairs.
Don’t let your gutters drive you nuts! To protect your property and your family, you can schedule regular gutter cleanings and maintenance.
This blog can give you a quick rundown on when it’s best to break out the ladder, how often you should clean your gutters, and why it is necessary. So, get ready and keep reading to learn more.
What Happens If You Don’t Clean Your Gutters?
There’s no excuse for ignoring this task when you can clean it yourself or hire a gutter cleaning company to do it for you. Left ignored, gutters can lead to many costly problems.
Insect Infestation
Clogged and unclean gutters are a magnet for insects, pests, and other animals. The accumulated debris and leaves will cause standing water, and where there is moisture, bugs and pests will go. Once they have settled into your gutters, they will be attracted to the inside of the house and soon cause further structural damage.
Roof Damage
Standing water caused by debris buildup can damage the gutters themselves, the shingles, and the entire roofing system. If your shingles get drenched and saturated with water, they will deteriorate fast until the roof deck becomes damaged too.
Besides roof damage, your insulation and ceiling will be saturated with water, causing ceiling and wall leaks.
Basement Flooding
If your gutters are clogged, water can run down the side of your home and seep into your basement. When the basement walls get soaked with water, flooding can occur and ruin anything you have stored in your basement. Your furnace and circuit breakers may also be damaged, which can cause electrical shock and gas leaks.
Cracked and Weakened Foundations
Overflowing gutters can cause water along the foundation, which can result in cracks and landscape erosion. Structural damage can be devastating for homeowners since it is not usually covered by home insurance. Foundation cracks are costly to repair, so ensure that you clean your gutters regularly to prevent piers in your home from deteriorating quickly.
Leaky Gutters and Mold Growth
Moisture is the worst enemy of gutters. If you don’t clean your gutters, standing water will build up and overflow there. Any standing water is a place where algae and mold spores grow, and it only takes 24-48 hours to develop a mold colony. Mold can lead to roof damage, allergies, and health problems, which is why it must be addressed immediately.
What Are the Signs That You Have Clogged Gutters?
Through regular cleaning and inspections, you can spot damage due to clogged gutters before it starts. You can perform a quick visual inspection during the day as natural light can help you properly check your gutters. Here are a few warning signs you should never ignore:
Animals and pests are around your roof. Are you seeing bugs, birds, and critters crawling around your gutters? There is a possibility that they could be nesting spots in your clogged gutters. If you have seen more animal friends like squirrels and mice in your home, it’s now time to get the cleaning done.
Water is spilling over the sides. Gutters help direct the water away from your home. When they are clogged and filled with debris, water can start going over the edges of your gutters and any place where it shouldn’t be. Call a professional gutter cleaner immediately to avoid more complicated problems like basement flooding or structural damage.
You have sagging gutters. Too much debris and leaves can weigh your gutters down, causing them to sag and pull away from the fascia board and the house itself. As a result, they can be an eyesore and put your home at risk. A sagging gutter can weigh up to 400 pounds or more, and you will spend at least $20-$30 to replace the gutter hangers and fasteners.
There are black streaks on your gutters. Any signs of staining on your gutters and siding indicate that there is standing water in your gutters. The rainwater that stays stagnant in your gutter will not just ruin the appearance of your home but also damage the fascia boards and shingles. You can ask a professional gutter cleaner to remove these black streaks for you.
When and How Frequently Should You Clean Your Gutters?
Experts recommend cleaning your gutters at least twice a year, during the late spring and late summer/early fall. However, if there are many pine or oak trees around your house, inspect your gutters every 2-3 months and clean any foliage debris before they start to accumulate.
You may also try seasonal gutter cleaning to get all the dirt and debris out of your gutter system and keep them in good shape. Preventing the build-up of twigs, leaves, and branches can help your gutters remain durable throughout their 15 to 20-year lifespan. It is much cheaper to schedule regular gutter cleaning and maintenance than replacing them altogether in terms of costs.
Need Help With Your Gutters?
To sum everything up, it’s essential to clean your gutter. While it’s a house cleaning task that you can try doing yourself, gutter cleaning can be time-consuming and intimidating. You can always call count on a professional to carry out the job.
At Pittsburgh Gutter Cleaning, we offer comprehensive gutter cleaning services that can protect your gutters and your largest investment—your home. We value your satisfaction and ensure that our gutter cleaning services are second to none!