If you allow debris to collect in your gutters, prepare to deal with home maintenance issues in the future. Gutters are important because they keep rainwater from weakening the foundation of your home. They also protect your landscape from floods that may develop during severe weather conditions. This apparatus is extremely useful, but you’ll expose your home to numerous potential hazards if you do not keep them clean.
An excessive amount of rubbish in your gutters can clog your downspouts and underground pipes. This is a common problem among homeowners who refuse to clean out their troughs regularly. Clogged downspouts will prevent the rainwater from flowing through the gutter system effortlessly. This is a recurrent problem that usually ends up causing a succession of maintenance issues.
If water struggles to flow into the downspout, it will eventually pour over the sides of the gutter. This will create a cascade that can quickly form a puddle around the home. The standing water can potentially flood the basement and compromise the structure’s foundation. It can also erode the soil and destroy any plant life that may be surrounding the home.
Cascading water can also seep behind the facia board and into the eaves. Some of the water may even bleed into roof boards and leak behind walls. If this water doesn’t dry quickly, the moisture can cause the wood to rot, soften, and bow in several areas. It can also leak into the electrical wires and components powering the home.
You will not lose anything but your labor and time if you make the sincere choice to clean your gutters regularly. Hiring a professional to do the job may only cost you a few hundred dollars at most. This is infinitely better than the thousands of dollars it will cost to fix a leaky roof or flooded basement. By staying on top of your gutter care, you can avoid these grim, but very avoidable, maintenance nightmares.