They may not be the most eye-catching part of your home, but gutters play a vital role in keeping everything in tip-top shape!
An Important Job
Keeping your gutters clean and clear of debris is a simple way to help protect your home from damage. While it may seem like just another household task on the never-ending list, it’s important to know why you should clean your gutters, as well as what happens if you don’t.
What do gutters do?
The main role of gutters is to move rainwater away from the roof of your house, and direct it towards a downspout that leads to a drain. This is done pretty simply with an extra push from gravity, but can only work if the gutters are kept clear. As a homeowner, it’s important to take measures to prevent your gutters from becoming clogged, and to tend to any issues as soon as you notice them.
Why is this important?
When too much rainwater falls close to the main structure of your home, it can soften and erode the soil around it. Eventually, this can lead to structural issues and a lot of damage to your foundations. Without gutters, rain would also be more likely to get in through your windows and doors, and while not necessarily damaging, this is pretty inconvenient.
Consequences of Blocked Gutters
Over time, leaves, twigs, small branches, and other types of debris can collect and build up in your gutters. This is completely normal, but should be something that you check for and manage frequently, just like with any other household task.
Leaks
One of the first signs that your gutters need to be cleaned is a leak. This can be easily discovered with a visual inspection of the roof, and can be remedied with a simple cleanup. However if the issue is left unchecked, it can lead to other issues.
Blocked, dirty gutters that aren’t tended to can end up causing leaks in the roof. This is because the debris blocks water from flowing through the gutter system, and it begins to pool on the roof, ultimately causing damage. This can result in a whole range of other problems and dangers in your home, so it’s best to keep gutters clean to prevent them from happening in the first place. Remember, keeping your gutters well-maintained is a lot cheaper than replacing your roof!
Pests
Insects and vermin love nothing more than dirty, debris-filled places to hide, making unmaintained gutters especially inviting. Vermin that are attracted to the debris on the gutters can eventually invade your home. When water pools inside gutters and on roofs, it also serves as a perfect breeding ground for mosquitoes. Not only this, but paper and wood components of a home can be attractive to cockroaches, termites, and other moisture-loving pests, especially when damp. Keeping gutters fully-functioning helps to keep these dry, therefore keeping insects at bay.
Mould
When rainwater gets inside your home, it creates the perfect environment for mould to develop. These spores float freely in the air, and when given a damp and moist environment to thrive, can grow and spread with ease. Apart from being unsightly and difficult to remove, different moulds can also cause a range of different health issues.
Damaged gutters
Once build-up begins, gutters can quickly become damaged if the mess isn’t taken care of. Not only can they rot from the debris, but as dirt and discarded foliage builds up, it becomes heavy enough to weigh down the gutters. This can cause them to either become distorted and bent out of shape, or crack and break entirely, needing to be replaced entirely.
Get in Touch
If you need help cleaning your gutters, or have any other garden maintenance issues that we can help with, contact Jim’s Mowing for our expert opinion.
