1. Foundational Damage
The main job of a gutter system is to guide water off the roof to the ground, and direct it away from the foundation of your home. Unfortunately, a blockage can easily occur if you do not clean your gutters. This causes the water to pour over the sides of the gutters and form a pool around the foundation, rather than away. Pools of water near the foundation create two major issues, as follows:- Pooling water makes the soil near your home’s foundation significantly saturated. This expanding soil puts a huge amount of pressure on to the side of your property. Over time, pressure causes your basement and the lower walls of your home to warp inward and crack.
- The soil could erode once the water drains away. Without the soil there for support, the foundation can begin to settle, resulting in cracks in walls and uneven floors.
2. Formation of Ice Dams
Ice dams are ridges of ice that form on gutters and the lower edges of rooflines. They prevent snow from draining off the roof, which means the water can pool there and eventually seep into your home. Ice dams can also pull the gutters off of your home. If this happens, it can lead to internal flooding and structural damage. Water damage to your home can create a number of other problems as well, including mold growth. While ice dams can form on roofs even with clear gutter systems, clogged gutters certainly increase this possibility. By keeping your gutters clear, you are able to help lower the changes of ice dams forming on your house. Removing ice dams by yourself can potentially be very dangerous. If you need to remove ice dams, it is best to hire a professional roofing contractor. Many gutter cleaning firms also offer an ice dam removal service. Related article: Seasonal Home Maintenance Considerations Along with regularly cleaning and clearing your gutters, avoid ice dams by properly ventilating and insulating your attic. Overly-warm attics are the main cause of ice dams forming. In addition, do not install water heaters and other mechanical equipment in attics.3. Damage to Fascia Boards and Siding
Gutter systems are held into position with wooden fascia boards. If your gutters begin to flood and spill over due to debris, it can damage these boards. In particular, the fascia boards begin to deteriorate and rot with excess water. Although fascia boards are fairly inexpensive to replace, it is much easier to clear your gutters so the problem does not happen in the first place. Related article: What does homeowners insurance not cover? Other water damage due to unclear gutters can be more serious. If your home’s siding is constructed of wood and you have not cleared your gutters for a long time, you could be in trouble. Clogged gutters can cause water to overflow and run down this wood siding. This creates rot, mold and other problems that are often expensive to fix.4. Negative Impacts on Your Garden
Water damage from overflowing gutters does not only cause damage to your house, it is also a problem for your garden. If excessive water lands on small trees, flowerbeds and shrubs that surround the base of your home, it can have negative impacts on these plants. Even though plant roots are underneath the soil, they still require air. Drenched soil can become compacted, which means there is little air to reach these roots. Seedlings especially need fluffy soil in order to continue to grow and survive. In addition, flooding waters can cause certain plants to become uprooted if the surrounding soil is dislodged.How often should gutters be cleared?
How often you need to clear your gutters depends on the climate and landscape in which you live. Leaves and twigs are the main reason gutters get clogged up, so homes in areas with lots of foliage require cleaning more often. For example, if your house is in the Arizona desert, you might be able to go years without needing to clean your gutters. If you live in a heavily wooded area, it may be necessary to clear your gutter system three or four times a year. However, for most people it is recommended to clear gutters at least twice a year, especially during:- Late fall. This is the most important time to clear your gutter system, when most trees have dropped their dead leaves for winter.
- In springtime, flower petals, maple “helicopters” and seeds can easily build up in your gutters. The majority of deciduous trees drop debris during the spring as well.
By Admin –
