Would you buy a $50,000 car and let the tires go bald? Or would you adopt a Tibetan Mastiff and feed it a chocolate bar? No, of course you wouldn’t, because you don’t want to damage something that costs a lot of money and that you care about. Your home is just like these major investments, and if you don’t take care of the details, like keeping the gutters clean, damage could occur.
So, what is the impact of clogged gutters on your home?
The purpose of gutters is to steer waterflow and direct it away from your home. When they are clogged, this doesn’t happen, and the uncontrolled water can cause damage to your roof, walls, and foundation. A clogged gutter is much heavier than a clean one and that weight can pull it off your house, causing damage to your siding or roof.
The entire drainage system of your home is designed to keep the structure safe from the corroding effects of water. If one part of that system is clogged or inhibited in any way, it can jeopardize the integrity of the whole thing.
So, What are Some Causes of Clogged Gutters?
Debris that clog gutters come in various forms. Leaves from trees shedding their colors in the fall are a common cause. Wind can carry any light object and deposit it into your gutters, including seeds. These can sprout and soon, you have plants growing where your rainwater is supposed to be freely flowing.
Pests can be attracted to the material trapped in your gutters, and once they are there, they tend to multiply and cause further blockage. Plus, most pests aren’t satisfied living on the outside of a nice house, and would like to find a way in. Animals can build nests in your gutters. These are definitely a game changer for your waterflow and lead to serious clogs.
So, How Does it Impact Your Home’s Foundation?
Water is not a friend to your house’s foundation. Gutters that are not clogged steer water away from your foundation so that water doesn’t gather in pools that can cause cracks. Cracked foundations can cost thousands of dollars to fix and compromise the strength of your structure. What you really want is to keep the water flowing away from your foundation and this is exactly what a clean, well-functioning drainage system does.
Clogged gutters may cause water to gather on your roof or the gutters to pull off your siding, all of which causes stress to your house. Mold and mildew love damp places and mosquitos love standing water. All of these are results of water trapped by clogged gutters. Once part of your home is compromised, whether it is the foundation or the roof, you and your family’s safety and health are at risk, too.
Related Questions
So, What are Some Other Common Problems With Gutters?
Gutters can crack if they become too heavy with debris. They can sag or even fall off the side of your house if the wood they are connected to rots. Gutters can also develop holes which cause leaks.
So, Why is Professional Maintenance a Good Idea?
The cost of a professional cleaning your gutters is a fraction of the money you would spend fixing your foundation or the hospital bill from falling off a ladder. A professional has the equipment and experience to do the job safely and hiring one keeps you and your investment healthy.
Recap
Taking good care of your home means keeping moisture under control, and this takes a clean drainage system. Clogged gutters are the enemies of your home and can lead to serious damage to your roof and cracks in your foundation. So, treat your investment with care and keep those gutters clear.
In recognizing the paramount role that well-maintained gutters play in establishing the foundation of a sound home, we urge you to reach out to us here at Excel Home Improvement in Romulus for a Free Estimate.
Our home improvement services are based on an unwavering commitment to excellence so that you have peace of mind that your biggest investment, your home, is fortified with meticulous gutter repair and installation as well as siding installation and a full spectrum of roofing services including installation. The future of your home’s well-being begins with a single call – a call that assures your journey towards an optimally secure and enduring living space.