5 Reasons It’s Essential to Clean Your Gutters
Roof maintenance doesn’t end with a roof replacement. Your brand new roof will still need maintenance to maintain its top-notch shape.
Gutters are an essential part of your roofing system, and to ensure you maximize its lifespan, you need to clean your gutters.
You might be asking, “how important could cleaning my gutters be?”
Rescue My Roof has been in business for a decade, and during those ten years, we’ve done what we do best: educate our clients on the best practices for their roofs.
Among these best practices is cleaning gutters. In this article, we’ll break down why you shouldn’t miss cleaning your gutters. Ultimately, you’ll get the most extended lifespan possible out of your roof.
Should You Clean Your Gutters?
The short answer is: yes. Cleaning your gutters is a must for roof maintenance.
Here are five reasons why cleaning your gutters is so crucial.
1. Prevent Debris Build-Up.
We’ve all heard the tales of what it’s like to clean out your gutters. It can be a very tedious task, but there’s a reason why it must be done. Cleaning out your gutters is crucial for your entire roofing system.
By cleaning out your gutters, you are preventing water from building up in the gutters and overflowing.
When gutters overflow, water can pool at your home’s foundation, leading to leaks in the basement.
Or, clogged gutters can lead to ice dams in the winter. This leaves your roof at a higher risk for leaks and shingle damage.
Cleaning your gutters might not seem fun, but the consequences should convince you to clean out your gutters at least twice a year to avoid severe damage to your home.
2. Water Damage
Clogged gutters can lead to water damage, but it can be more severe than just a few minor leaks in your basement or condensation on the walls. Your basement isn’t the only thing at risk.
When your gutters aren’t cleaned, the water that finds its way into your home can cause mold and mildew to grow.
It can also cause water damage to the wooden decking on your roof and the drywall in your home.
Mold remediation or replacement of decking and drywall can be costly expenses. However, these repairs are avoidable. Clean your gutters frequently to protect your home’s interior from water damage.
3. Roof Damage
When debris builds up in your gutters, water cannot flow properly. As a result, water will back up and begin to overflow, leaking in between the gutters and fascia and causing the fascia board to rot.
Additionally, water can begin leaking onto the roof’s edges and underneath the shingles, causing them to crack. Water can begin finding its way into your home without the outer layer of protection on your roof that shingles provide.
Overall, clogged gutters and the damage to your roof it causes can also cause a major headache.
Spare yourself the hassle of costly repairs by cleaning your gutters the recommended two to four times per year.
4. Algae Growth
When your gutters are not cleaned as frequently as they should be, algae can begin to grow.
Algae can cause additional moisture problems that can do damage to your roofing system. But overall, it’s an unsightly issue that can decrease the curb appeal of your home.
Algae can turn white gutters black and can begin to creep up and cause streaking on your shingles as well.
You can maintain the appearance of your home by avoiding algae- and cleaning your gutters when appropriate.
5. Basement Flooding
We’ve discussed water damage in your home – but it can go beyond simple drywall damage and condensation on the walls in your basement.
Gutters are designed to keep water away from your home. When they fail due to built-up debris, they can no longer do their job effectively.
Water will overflow from your gutters and pool at the foundation of your home. Eventually, it will find a way into your home and can cause severe flooding in your basement.
The water will destroy any paint and furniture in its way. And unfortunately, even after the water is gone, mold and mildew can begin to grow.
Clogged gutters can cause /thousands/of dollars of damage to your basement. But, it’s an avoidable issue. By regularly cleaning your gutters, you can avoid this significant problem.
Clean Your Gutters Twice A Year
Your home should be a safe haven. It is a place where you can get away from the world and relax. But neglecting roof maintenance like regular gutter cleaning can turn your home from a relaxing space into a nightmare.
The issues caused by clogged gutters are all avoidable – all you have to do is take the time to clean your gutters twice per year. Ideally, in seasons where there is a high amount of debris, like autumn.
Looking for more roof tips? Read “6 Signs Your Gutters Need to Be Replaced” and “Preparing Your Roof for the Winter.”
Or, if you live ihttps://rescue-my-roof.com/contact-us/n the greater Milwaukee area and would like a professional roofer to come out and clean your gutters, Rescue My Roof is ready to serve you! Contact us today to get your free estimate.