As a homeowner, knowing what causes gutter damage helps reveal quick and easy solutions. Your home’s gutters are crucial, but why is it so important to clean them throughout the year?
Here are the common problems with guttering and what to do before things get out of hand.
Why Do I Need to Clean My Gutters?
What causes the most damage to your home’s gutters? A lack of maintenance and regular cleaning are two significant factors, but gutters also face extensive damage after strong storms and things like fallen tree limbs. While you can’t stop the storms, you can take steps to properly maintain and protect your gutter system.
What’s the main reason to clean your gutters? Problems won’t happen as often with clear channels. Functional drainage should also prevent future gutter problems to help you avoid costly repairs.
How could a professional gutter cleaning service help keep things in order? One example is how proactive maintenance prevents the excess weight of dirt, debris, and leaves from putting strain on your gutter system and causing clogs. Ignoring clogging leads to gutter sagging, leaks, and breakage that will likely require complete replacement and drive up your cost commitment.
Gutter Damage from Not Cleaning Your Gutters
With unmaintained gutters, your roof and foundation may face structural damage if you neglect regular gutter cleanings. Let’s take a look at what happens to other parts of your home when you don’t clean your gutters frequently enough.
Uncleaned gutters that are clogging will contribute to damage beyond your gutter system in the following ways:
- Water damage. Water that cannot flow away from the roof can contribute to shingle damage and more. This will impact the strength and longevity of your roof as water seeps into the wooden supports and structures.
- Leaks. The other danger of roof damage is interior leaks. Any size leak causes significant water damage that will cost much more than annual gutter maintenance. It may also lead to mold issues that affect your health and are extremely expensive to remediate.
- Foundation issues. The gutter system redirects water away from your home, which protects the foundation’s structural integrity. Warped wood or weeping and cracked stone can make any house unstable, so even simple gutter systems make a difference.
Thankfully, proactive steps can prevent and fix the most common gutter problems before they can become major issues.
Gutter Problems and How to Fix Them
Which common gutter problems can affect your home? Here are some of the obvious signs and the steps you can take to fix the issue.
Gutter Sagging
One of the major signs of a gutter problem is the gutters starting to sag or pull away from the roof’s edge. Loose or broken fasteners might be a culprit for this particular issue, but it may also indicate that the gutter’s clogged section has become too heavy for its supports.
In some cases, you will need to have gutter professionals like Evergreen Window Cleaning & Home Maintenance check or replace the fasteners or an entire section of the gutter system.
Gutter Leakage
Another common gutter problem involves leaks, big or small. The connecting joints along the gutter line sometimes separate with years of use. The joint fasteners also sustain damage, allowing water to seep out.
Incorrect Gutter Slope
What is a more subtle form of gutter damage? There might be a problem if the gutters don’t sit at the correct slope. They should be at about a quarter-inch drop every ten feet along the gutter line.
Clogged Gutters
Water pooling in your gutters during rain storms can indicate a clog. Ensuring the gutters are clear keeps the water flowing.
Other Damage to Gutters
Has a storm passed through your area? Strong winds, heavy rainfall, and fallen tree limbs cause gutter problems, so be sure to check for water buildup.
How to Prevent Gutter Problems
What’s the best way to prevent gutter problems? Maintain your gutter system year-round. However, you should not be spending your free time on a ladder if you want to avoid injuries or more damage. Instead, hire local gutter cleaning services with all the right equipment and expertise.
Professionally cleaning your gutters allows you to discover potential problems while they’re still in the early stages. And in addition to protecting the lifespan of your gutters, beautifully clean gutters will also improve your home’s curb appeal!
Need Help With Your Gutters? Contact Evergreen Team!
Do you have problems with guttering? Trust the local professionals at Evergreen Window Cleaning & Home Maintenance to keep your gutters in great shape.
Say goodbye to gutter damage—contact us online to schedule a consultation today!
