Clean gutters make a healthy home. Because they move rainwater away from your roof, walls, and foundation, gutter cleaning is very important.
What happens if you don’t clean your gutters?
During fall, debris and leaves are blown to your roof and pile up along your gutters. If you don’t clean them out, they will stay there as winter arrives. Gutters freeze over and then melt in the spring.
If your gutters are clogged, water won’t be able to properly drain away from your house. When that happens, water will accumulate in a number of different locations from the roof to the foundation.
A lot of people tend to ignore gutter cleaning because damage is usually hidden from sight. Climbing up the roof can also be a tedious task. If you continue to neglect your gutters, the damage to your home can be enormous and expensive. Make it a point to schedule gutter cleaning at least once a month.
Gutters are designed to prevent rainwater from pooling on the roof, along the side, and on the foundation. They control the flow of water so that it moves away from your property and into the drain. When gutters are clogged, water cannot exit properly. This could lead to a long list of problems for a homeowner.
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Siding and roof rot
When rainwater is not able to drain out through the gutters, it drips down the side of the house. This often results in siding rot and ice dams in the winter.
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Roof damage
When leaves and other debris accumulate on your gutters, water floods over. Excess water pooling on your roof can lead to rot. Roof rot requires expensive repairs and replacement tiles which is why gutter cleaning is important.
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Breed pests
If you don’t clean your gutters, they can become attractive breeding grounds for pests. Critters of all sizes – from birds to flies to mosquitoes – could turn your gutters into nesting beds. Gutter cleaning can make your time outdoors more pleasant without the bug bites.
According to the CDC, the Zika virus spreads through the bite of an infected Aedes Aegypti mosquito. Communities are advised to remove standing water so mosquitoes can’t lay eggs. Reducing the number of mosquitoes in your home can prevent an outbreak.
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Fascia damage
The board that runs right behind your gutter is called the fascia. Gutters with overflowing water can damage this important component of your drainage system.
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Flooding garden beds
Plants need water to grow but overwatering can also kill them. If your gutters are clogged, water could spill over and drip down to your landscape. Flooding on your garden beds can thus drown your plants and ruin your lawn.
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Foundation cracks
Water that does not drain properly may end up pooling around the foundation of your home. When winter arrives, this water freezes and then expands. This could generate cracks in the foundation
If your gutters are blocked and overflowing, water could find its way down into the basement. This can lead to even bigger problems such as rot and mold growth. Damage to your foundation can make your entire home unstable and put your family at risk.
Clean your gutters before it’s too late
Gutters can become a homeowner’s nightmare if not properly maintained. Buildup of dust, leaves, sticks, animal feces, and other debris inside your gutter can result in water damage. Dirty and wet gutters also make nice homes for pests, rodents, and mold.
If you don’t invest in gutter cleaning, you could be looking at thousands of dollars in repair cost.
How often should you clean your gutters?
If you live in an area with lots of trees, then you should clean your gutters more often. Inspect your gutters around every four months to see if they need flushing out.
In addition to cleaning gutters, you should have a professional take a look at your downspouts. It is more difficult for rainwater to go down a clogged downspout.
Do you need gutter covers?
Gutter screens are designed to reduce debris buildup. They can prevent up to 80 percent of dirt from getting in. Although they do not completely keep debris out, screens decrease the need for maintenance. You might need to only clean a gutter with cover once every year instead of every four months.
Leave Gutter Cleaning to the Experts in Residential and Commercial Cleaning
Climbing a ladder can be dangerous. Make sure the ground is level before you go up. If the soil is soft, put a piece of plywood under the ladder legs.
To avoid the hassle, we highly recommend that you hire a professional to clean your gutters. Prestige Property Services has been cleaning gutters in Los Angeles and Orange County property for over 15 years. We flush out all debris from the roof, gutters and downspouts, and repair any loose fixtures.
Save thousands of dollars in repairs. Call Prestige today for your next gutter cleaning schedule.
