Gutters have a huge responsibility on your home; they push stormwater out and away from the home itself, keeping your property safe from water damage. However, if you have a blocked gutter, your home could be at risk.
What are some of the dangers of not cleaning your gutters?
If you have never cleaned your gutters before, now is the time to start. Here are just a few of the dangers of leaving your gutters clogged or dirty.
1. Leaky Roof
When your gutters get backed up, the water has nowhere to go but your roof. Sometimes, water may sneak its way through your shingles and into your home. If you’re very unlucky, your roof may even start to give under the weight of the water, leading to further damage.
If you want to avoid potential water damage in your home, you need to get gutter cleaning services for your blocked gutter. The longer you leave the issue alone, the worse the problem could become.
2. Pest Infestations
Many species of insects like to lay their eggs in stagnant water. Blocked gutters create the perfect breeding ground for annoying pests, such as mosquitos. Even the smallest amount of water sitting inside your gutter could house thousands of mosquito eggs.
Wood-eating insects like termites also benefit from the standing water inside of your gutters. The water can damage the wood on your home, giving these pests a great feeding ground. These little bugs could cause serious property damage with enough time.
Unless you want your home to turn into a pest sanctuary, you need to clean up any standing water inside your gutters. If you notice an abundance of insects around certain areas of your home, particularly around your gutters, it may be a wake-up call to take care of a blocked gutter.
3. Rotting Wood
Odds are, some parts of your home’s foundation are built out of wood. When exposed to water, this wood can start to decay and break down, becoming food for certain types of fungus. It can collapse under the slightest pressure.
You may start to notice your walls weakening or starting to smell strange. This is likely a sign of rotting wood. The moment you notice these odours or any other signs of rotting wood, you should repair the damage to your home and find the source of the water; that way, you can prevent further structural damage.
4. Foundation Damage
One purpose of your home’s gutter system is to protect the foundation of your home. Gutters move water away from your home’s foundation, preventing water from seeping into the soil around the base of your home. This keeps your property and basement safe from water damage.
When one drain gets clogged, water can seep out of the gutters directly down to your home’s foundation. This may weaken the foundation or cause water to get into your basement.
Excess water around your home puts stress and pressure on the foundation, causing cracks to form over time. This can cause extensive water damage to your basement and home as a whole. If left untreated for too long, it can even cause your home to collapse!
5. Damage to Sidewalk and Driveways
Similarly to how water can damage your home’s foundation, your home’s driveway and the sidewalk near your property could be at risk. Excess rainwater can get under the concrete and asphalt, causing it to crack and shift over time. This means you’ll need to spend a good deal of money fixing the damages.
6. Mold and Mildew
Mould thrives in wet environments. Even a small amount of standing water soaking into your home could give life to mould and mildew. There are parts of your home that aren’t meant to be exposed to water; should your gutter leak water onto those areas, you can expect mould growths in no time.
You may not be able to spot these areas right away, allowing the mould to have a chance to take root in your home. If you’re concerned you may have a mould issue due to water damage, pay attention to how your home smells. If you notice musty or damp odours, then you likely have a mould problem.
7. Landscape Erosion
As water piles up around your home’s foundation, it can affect the landscape around your home. Destroyed flower beds, overwhelmed trees, and flushed-out yards are just a few negative outcomes of heavy storms when you have clogged gutters. Not only will this leave an unsightly mess, but you’ll have to spend a lot of money repairing your yard.
Your home’s curb appeal is important, especially if you want to sell it in the near future. If you want to protect the outward appearance of your home, make sure you’re cleaning your gutters out regularly.
8. Slips, Trips, and Falls
Leaving blocked gutters on your home can put your own health at risk. This is especially true during the winter. As water pools out of your gutter and around your home, it may freeze over in unexpected areas; if you aren’t careful, you could slip and fall without seeing the accident coming.
Icicles may also form below the gutter, posing a risk to anyone standing below the shards of ice. For the safety of yourself and anyone who visits your home, make sure that your gutters are clean, especially before winter hits.
Take Care of Your Blocked Gutter Today
Now that you know about the dangers of blocked gutters, it’s time to hire gutter cleaning services to protect your home! Remember, your gutters are responsible for keeping your home safe from storms. Make sure they can do their job right.
Are you searching for great cleaning services to take care of your home?
We’re here to help. Contact us with any questions or concerns you have about our gutter cleaning services and continue reading our blog for more helpful information today!
