Gutters are an essential part of your home. They transport water away from your residence during heavy rainstorms, preventing potential water damage that costs more than a pretty penny to fix. However, dirty and clogged gutters can’t carry rainwater efficiently, leaving your home susceptible to costly water damage.
You probably don’t think about the gutters around your roof, but they are extremely important. The gutters help protect your home against water damage. Clogged gutters can cause water leaks, mold growth, paint damage, and foundation weakening.
Fortunately, Evergreen Window Cleaning is here to teach you when to clean gutters and how to improve their efficiency.
Signs That You Have Clogged Gutters
You should request a gutter cleanup service if you notice any of the signs of bad gutters below:
Water Leaks From the Edges of Your Gutters
When the gutters are clean, water will run through your system smoothly into the downspouts. With clogs in the way, water run-off from your roof will escape through the path of least resistance, typically over the edges of your gutters.
Plants Growing in Your Gutters
Dirty gutters contain enough organic material to encourage the growth of grasses and plants. Seeds and spores may fall into your gutters from nearby trees, but birds and pests may also dispose of seeds there. Either way, vegetation growing in your gutters is the biggest sign of gutter blockage.
Stains Inside and Outside Your Home
Dirty water running off your roof and over the gutters into your home will leave stains when the surfaces dry, ruining the property’s curb appeal. Water stains across your gutter’s exterior, siding, or walls are one of the surest signs of a blocked gutter system.
Gutters Sagging and Showing Visible Signs of Damage
Gutters will sag under the weight of accumulated debris over time. You may start to see cracks and other visible signs of damage after a while. If you don’t clean the gutters, the weight of the debris will tear off the entire system from the roof.
Water Not Draining From the Downspout
One of the best tips on how to tell if gutters are clogged is to look at the downspouts. If you can’t see water draining out of the downspouts, there’s a clog in the system.
Pests and Birds Around Your Gutters
Pests and birds running around your gutters is a sure sign of blockage. Built-up debris makes it easier for small animals to build a nest and thrive in the gutter or elsewhere on your roof.
Signs That Your Gutters Need Cleaning
Figuring out when to clean gutters isn’t always easy. However, once you know what to look for, you can protect your home’s integrity while increasing its overall visual appeal. Below are some common signs that your gutters need cleaning.
1. Animals and Pests in The Gutters
Animals and pests often take shelter in dirty gutters and can overtake a residence rather quickly. They make nests in the excess debris and often cause infestations that reduce your home’s integrity, curbside appeal, and more. Although numerous animals can infiltrate your gutter system, the most common gutter pests include:
- Birds
- Possums
- Mice
- Squirrels
- Snakes
If you notice animal nests in your gutters, contact a professional gutter cleaning service for immediate assistance. They will eradicate the pests and clean your gutters to prevent future infestations.
A professional service can also install gutter guards to prevent unwanted animals from entering your gutters. They are relatively affordable and will drastically reduce pest infestations.
2. Plants Growing on Your Roof
Plants often grow in gutters when excess soil accumulates in the system. Failing to remove the soil promptly often leads to troublesome clogs and blockages while enhancing vegetation growth. You must remove dirt, plants, and other debris from your gutters as soon as you notice flora growing in the system.
3. Signs of Staining and Mildew
Unsightly stains and mildew growth doesn’t just deplete your home’s visual allure. They can also take a toll on your residence’s integrity, causing significant damage, foul-smelling odors, and potential health concerns. You must clean your gutters as soon as stains and mildew form to ensure your home remains in pristine condition.
4. Your Roof Is Leaking
A leaky roof is one of the most evident and problematic signs of a dirty gutter system. Clogged gutters can’t transport rainwater away from your home, causing worrisome leaks that jeopardize your home’s structure. Performing routine gutter maintenance will diminish the chances of roof leaks.
5. The Water Is Overflowing on The Sides
Figuring out when to clean gutters is sometimes as easy as looking at them. Overflowing gutters indicate blockages that can adversely affect your property. They can damage your home’s structure and create potentially hazardous mold and mildew colonies along your residence’s exterior.
6. You Haven’t Cleaned Them Out in a Long Time
Regularly cleaning and maintaining your gutters is an essential part of homeownership. Try creating a monthly gutter cleaning schedule to ensure your system remains in optimal condition.
What Are the Risks of Clogged Gutters?
Below are some things that could happen if you don’t clean your gutters.
Damaged Roof and Walls
When water sits in your gutters for a long time because of poor drainage, it may start to seep into the roof decking and down to your walls. The leak will worsen over time until other problems like mold growth and roof rot appear.
The Fascia Boards
Fascia boards are thin panels that run along the lower part of your roof and prevent water damage during heavy rainfall. Dirty, overflowing gutters can deteriorate your home’s fascia boards and leave it vulnerable to excess moisture.
Foundation Cracks
One of the main reasons for installing gutters is to keep water away from your foundation. With clogs in the system, water will likely pool around it. If you ignore the problem long enough, your foundation will crack. Such structural damage can be costly to repair.
Possible Sickness
The humid environment caused by poorly draining gutters often leads to mold and mildew growth, which can worsen and trigger allergies or other respiratory problems. Sitting water also encourages the growth of disease vectors like mosquitos.
Yard or Landscaping Damage
When water streams onto your landscape without control, your flower beds and garden may get washed away.
Overwatering, erosion, and loss of fertilizer may also follow.
How To Clean Clogged Gutters
You can clean your gutters in two ways:
DIY
Cleaning gutters on your own is as simple as clearing out the debris with a trowel and flushing the gutters with a garden hose. However, there’s the risk of falling from that elevated height.
Hire a Professional
Hiring a professional saves you the time and stress of lugging a ladder and garden hose across your yard. You will also have a set of professional eyes inspecting your gutters after cleaning to ensure they are still in good shape.
When Do The Gutters Need To Be Cleaned?
Gutters need routine cleaning to function optimally year-round. It’s best to clean them once or twice a month to prevent buildup that could adversely affect your home. You can also hire a professional gutter cleaning service to handle the process if you want to ensure your gutter system receives a superior cleaning.
Choose Evergreen Window Cleaning for Your Gutter Cleaning Services
Evergreen Window Cleaning is Seattle, WA’s source for professional gutter cleaning and associated services. We can teach you when to clean gutters to ensure your home’s gutter system functions optimally during the heaviest rainstorms. If you want your gutters to be the best they can be, contact Evergreen Window Cleaning.
Give us a call at (206) 636-1653 and see what we can do for you today!
FAQS About Clogged Gutters
How Do You Clear a Clogged Gutter?
You can clear a clogged gutter by scooping away all debris inside and flushing it with water.
What Happens When Your Gutters Are Clogged?
Clogged gutters expose your home to water damage inside and outside.
Can Clogged Gutters Cause Roof Damage?
Clogged gutters can cause roof leaks and wood rot if you ignore the problem, leading to even more dangerous (and expensive) problems down the line.
