Gutter systems are essential for your home because they safely manage water and keep it away from your roof, walls, and foundation. Gutters that are clogged can lead to costly damage in many ways.
You’ll especially want gutters if your home sits at the bottom of hills or upward slopes, as rainwater can build up and cause structural damage.
Water Damage
A gutter system that isn’t properly maintained can cause water damage to a home. Rainwater and snowmelt not channeled away by a functioning gutter can saturate the soil around foundation walls and weaken them, leading to cracks and cave-ins. This also creates a wet basement, which causes problems with mold and mildew.
Professional gutters in Lafayette LA are designed to help drain water off the roof and through downspouts into the ground or street. But when they’re clogged, the water spills over the sides, down the siding, and into the home, leaving water stains and rotting wood behind.
Water that doesn’t get channeled away from a house can pool under driveways and cement patios, creating icy slipping hazards in the winter. In addition, moist gutter debris becomes a perfect breeding environment for mosquitoes and other pests looking for a place to nest.
Pests
When gutters are clogged, they offer pests, including rats, mice, insects, birds, and mosquitoes, the ideal habitats for nesting and breeding. These bugs may carry diseases, making them more than simply an annoyance that can be spread to family members and pets. They can also damage your home and cause unsightly stains on your roof. In addition, the debris that clogs your gutter can decompose into organic material and support the growth of tree seedlings, fungi, and other plants that can damage your home’s landscape.
A sound gutter system channels rainwater away from the house’s foundation, walls, and structure, protecting these areas from moisture problems. If a gutter is clogged, it can’t do this job properly and can cause mold, damp conditions around the house, wood rot, and even sagging gutters.
By directing water away from paved surfaces, gutters protect driveways, sidewalks, and patios. The water may enter these regions if the drains are obstructed, wash away soil, or seep under and through the fascia boards and deteriorate them.
Structural Damage
Gutter systems help protect your home’s foundation by channeling water away from the house. However, if your gutters are clogged, they can’t do this task properly. This will lead to overflowing and flooding, which will cause severe damage. The excess water will soak the ground directly near your foundation, which can cause cracks and porous spots to develop. This can cause significant problems for your home’s structure and even result in shifting or settlement.
A clogged gutter will also push water against the walls of your home, which can cause paint damage as well. This can also rot the wood fascia and lead to leaks in the ceiling and walls of your home. This can be costly and require you to knock down the damaged wall, replace it, and repaint it.
Rodents and insects love damp areas, so if water remains in your gutters for an extended period, it could create an environment that appeals to termites, mosquitoes, and other pests. Proper gutter cleaning will prevent this and help you avoid a rodent infestation.
Mold
The moisture in gutters creates the ideal environment for mold spores to grow. As mold grows, it can weaken the entire gutter system and cause it to sag or collapse. You can easily clean your gutters if comfortable working on a ladder. Use a sprayer filled with water and a cleaning solution containing bleach, such as a household cleaner. Wear goggles and gloves, as bleach can harm your eyes and skin. Spray the entire gutter system and let it sit for 10-15 minutes. Then, get up on the ladder and scrub the mold away with a brush.
Clogged gutters prevent rainwater or melting snow from flowing away from your home correctly. This can overflow and seepage into your house’s walls, roof, or foundation. This is a severe problem that can be expensive to repair and can also cause damage to your landscaping.
Health Issues
Gutter systems are designed to direct the flow of rainwater and snowmelt away from the house foundation and landscaping. When this doesn’t occur, water will pool around your home’s foundation and saturate the soil. This can cause both structural damage and cracks in your home’s foundation.
When debris like leaves, pine needles, animal nests, and stray golf or tennis balls clog your gutters, rushing water and downspouts can’t be directed away from your home. This saturates the surrounding soil and creates an environment that attracts pests like termites, carpenter ants, roaches, and hornets.
Adding gutter covers to your system can reduce the amount of debris that enters, but it doesn’t stop the need for regular cleaning. In addition, a clogged gutter can dislodge your gutters from the fascia, which can cause them to sag and pull away from your roof. This can create an opening for leaking and mold to form. The best way to avoid these issues is to be proactive about your gutter maintenance and clean them SEVERAL times each year.
