Your gutters are responsible for preventing a whole load of problems, they are essential. If you fail to keep on top of the cleanliness of your gutters, then things can get messy. Typically, you should have your gutters cleaned at least twice a year. Here are some of the reasons why cleaning your gutters is so important! It’s worth noting that cleaning your gutters on your own can prove not just difficult, but dangerous due to height restraints. If you want to assure that the work is being carried out safely and efficiently it might be a good idea to get in contact with professionals, click here for gutter cleaning professionals.
Preventing roof damage
The purpose of your gutter is to lead rainwater off your roof, through the downspouts, and away from your home. When this process is disrupted due to blockage rainwater can penetrate your roof. After this happens a wide variety of issues can occur, one of the worst issues is roof rot. For obvious reasons, roof rot is the last problem you want to have considering how pricey it can be to fix the damages. This is without a doubt one of the biggest reasons why cleaning your gutters is so important.
It looks a lot better
Another reason why keeping on top of the cleanliness of your gutters should be a priority for you is that it massively affects your curb appeal. If you aren’t sure what curb appeal is, it’s essentially how aesthetically pleasing the exterior of your home is. It’s important to remember that you should pay attention to how nice the exterior of your home is just as much as the interior. After all, it’s the first thing that you and your guests will see before entering your house. It’s definitely an eyesore to have grass growing out of your gutters that’s visible to your neighbors and passers-by, first impressions matter so it’s a good idea to check your gutters to make sure everything is spick and span.
Stops animal nesting and infestations
To our misfortune, small rodents and insects love to stop by our gutters for a drink due to the stationary water that can build up if there’s a blockage. When leaves fall into your gutters it essentially provides the perfect place for squirrels, birds, and insects to build their nests. This is a lot more likely if you have trees surrounding your house but can happen regardless. If this problem occurs and nothing is done about it’s likely they will eventually begin to breed and even infest your whole attic! Without a question a doubt, this is one of the biggest reasons why cleaning your gutters is so important. It’s vital that you maintain your gutters to prevent pests from making your gutters and attic their new home. Not only is this not a nice thought, but it’s also very unhygienic and can pose health risks to you and your family.
Stops foundations from cracking
A massive factor to think about when on the topic of why cleaning your gutters is so important is foundation cracking. When water has nowhere to go and starts to pool up due to a blocked gutter, it goes to the right to your foundation. Another problem that can occur is it can gradually wear away your landscaping. This happens when too much water lands on the ground and causes the soil to expand, eventually, the soil will dry up again and it will contract back to normal. Although, if this process goes on for too long it can put stress on your foundation. Also, the water will probably get to your basement too and start causing trouble. Cracks will begin to show up in your drywall and your flooring may become uneven. It’s best to check if your gutters are clean regularly to avoid being caught out with a downpour of rain after a long period of dry weather.
Know the signs
It’s important to be able to identify the signs that your gutters are due to be cleaned, some of these signs include water dripping over your gutter, spotting nests in or around the gutter, rotting wood, or vegetation growing from the gutter. It’s very important to act quickly when any of these signs come to your attention as things could get a lot worse in a very short amount of time, resulting in you spending a lot more money on repairs in the grand scheme of things.
We hope that our list of reasons why getting your gutters cleaned is so important has helped you expand your knowledge on some of the avoidable issues that blocked gutters can cause.
