6 Reasons It’s Important to Have your Gutters Cleaned
Roof maintenance can seem misleadingly simple.
After you replace or repair your roof, you may think that’s the end of the process. After all, you don’t often hear people talking about the highs and lows of roof maintenance.
However, to ensure you get the most life out of your roofing system possible, you need to maintain your roof.
This includes doing inspections twice a year, checking up on your roof’s ventilation, and cleaning your gutters.
Why is cleaning your gutters necessary? We’re going to show you.
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 the best practices is keeping your gutters clean. By the end of this article, you are going to learn the top six reasons why the lifespan of your roofing system must keep your gutters clean. This way, you’ll get the most extended lifespan possible out of your roof.
1. Cleaning Your Gutters Prevents Debris Build-Up
We’ve all heard the tales of what it’s like to clean out your gutters. A lot of people make it seem like a very tedious task. But have they ever talked about the importance of why they do it?
Cleaning out your gutters isn’t just another task to add to your to-do list. It’s 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.
So while the task might not seem fun, the consequences should convince you to clean out your gutters at least twice a year to avoid severe damage to your home.
Prevent the debris build-up in your gutters and ultimately protect your home.
2. Water Damage In Your Home
We discussed before how 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.
The danger of water pooling at the foundation of your home is evident, but 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.
Additionally, it can 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 from water damage.
3. Debris-Filled Gutters = The Perfect Home For Pests
When debris builds up in the gutters and water pooling in the gutters and near the foundation of your home, that leaves the door wide open for unwanted pests.
Have you noticed a high amount of mosquitoes, ants, or termites? Your gutters may be the issue.
Moisture in clogged gutters attracts insects to your home to set up base.
One of the main ways to control the excess of pests is to control the source of the moisture. By cleaning your gutters two to four times per year, you are taking away a water source that they can be attracted to.
4. Clogged Gutters Can Cause Damage to Your Roof
When debris builds up in your gutters, water cannot flow properly through your gutters and the downspouts.
As a result, water will back up and begin to overflow. Water can leak in between the gutters and fascia, 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.
5. Algae
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.
6. 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.
Keeping Your Gutters Clean Will Keep Your Home Safe
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.
Continue your roofing education here, with Rescue My Roof by reading “6 Signs Your Gutters Need to Be Replaced” and “Preparing Your Roof for the Winter.”
Or, if you live in 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.