Clogged Gutters? Why Ignoring Gutter Damage Puts Your Home at Risk
Gutters are one of the most important features of your home. They prevent water from getting into sensitive areas like your foundation, basement, and electrical wires.
If they get clogged or damaged then it can lead to gutter damage that is expensive to repair. Sometimes gutter damage goes unnoticed until it gets bad enough for you to notice problems with the curb appeal of your home.
The best way to avoid gutter damage is by keeping them clean and free of debris. Also, you can prefer land drainage pipes that are the best option to maintain your drainage system.
What are Gutters?
Gutters are a pipe system made of metal or plastic that is installed on the edges of roofs.
The gutter’s job is to carry water from your roof and send it down through spouts into a collection area like an outdoor gutter box or an underground gutter drainage system.
The gutter keeps water away from areas where damage can occur, such as foundation walls, basement windows, garage doors & doorways, siding, decks, and patios.
In addition, they protect electrical wires by keeping them dry which reduces the risk of shock caused by exposed wire touching wet surfaces in bad weather conditions.
What Causes Gutter Damage?
- Tree branches and other debris that fall off the roof.
- Ice dams in colder climates cause ice to block water flow causing gutter overflow or gutter collapse due to too much weight.
- A clogged drain line, which prevents water from passing through smoothly.
If you’ve been noticing rusting on your gutters then this is often an indication of a blocked drainage system since rainwater without enough space will pool up on the metal creating corrosion over time.
How to Avoid Gutter Damage
Having a functioning gutter system is essential for your roof and home. With that said, follow these tips to avoid clogged gutter damage.
Receive Regular Gutter Maintenance:
Gutter damage is more likely to occur if gutter maintenance isn’t done often enough.
Schedule routine inspections and cleanings with gutter cleaners who will provide a detailed gutter inspection of the condition of your gutters, downspouts, leaders (the pipe that connects spout to gutter), and drain lines.
Remove Debris from Your Roof and Gutters:
Tree branches and other debris often fall off of roofs during high winds or storms.
Make sure to remove all leaves before they have a chance to damage your gutter system by using leaf blowers, rakes, brooms, etc.
Clean Your Gutters:
Keeping gutters clean will keep them working properly and prevent gutter collapse caused by too much water weight on the gutter surface.
You should be cleaning out your gutter at least once every three months but there are professional gutter cleaners who can do this for you quarterly if you prefer not to go up onto the roof yourself.
Prevent Gutter Damage with These Strategies
Ignoring gutter damage can compromise your roof and lead to several more issues. This can cause hundreds and even thousands of dollars in repair costs. To learn more about this subject, continue reading our blog for more helpful articles.
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