Gutters

Most people don’t think about their gutter system until they stop working correctly. But the fact is, the gutters on your home serve a critical service and they require maintenance and care to perform their job appropriately. Regular maintenance on your home goes a long way to preserving the value of your investment. And a well maintained gutter system has a lot to do with maintaining the good condition of your roof, walls, foundation and landscape. But if neglected, gutters can turn from a necessity to a nightmare.

Leaky Gutters & Mold

If you don’t clean your gutters, the first problem to crop up will be clogged gutters and downspouts leading to standing water collecting in your gutters and overflowing. As dead leaves decompose, the water in your gutters will become filthy and mold will start growing.

In our wet climate, mold is common and can cause a host of health problems if it gets inside your house. And it’s tricky (and expensive) to thoroughly clean, so it’s best to stop mold before it starts.

Leaking Roofs & Basements

Replacing your roof is a major undertaking– even if you put a new roof on top of your existing roof. The best strategy is to get the most out of your current roof by protecting it from the elements.

If you put off cleaning your gutters, your roof can and will leak. Water that doesn’t drain to the ground can accumulate on the roof, soaking through shingles and causing significant damage.

The same goes for your basement. If your gutter’s downspouts are clogged, don’t drain far enough away from the house, or are disconnected from your gutters, water can seep into your basement.

This can cause damage to anything you have stored in your basement, as well as to your foundation itself. You might also damage your furnace, circuit breakers, and other utilities in your basement.

Cracked Foundations

A cracked foundation is a major headache for any homeowner. Repairs can be very costly. But an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. By extending your downspouts away from your home (and making sure water is flowing through them), you’ll protect your foundation from cracks. Foundation cracks are caused by water damage and by expanding ice during the coldest part of the winter.

Bugs & Other Critters

Gutters are a magnet for insects, squirrels, birds, mice and other animals. Warm moist decomposing leaves are a rich source of food for many pests and once they’ve settled into your gutters, their next stop will be inside your house.

If you discover birds or other wildlife, call your local animal control for advice.

Driveway & Yard Damage

When it comes to your lawn and plants, too much water is just as bad as not enough. If your gutters aren’t draining water properly, water can pool up (even underground) killing delicate plants.

Too much water that isn’t draining properly can cause slick mold to grow on your driveway or freeze into slippery ice during the winter. Both problems can lead to falls and potentially serious injuries, especially to kids and older adults.

The best way to spot damage from unclean gutters is before it starts. A visual inspection of your gutters during the fall (before it starts raining) is a great place to start. If you’re not sure what to look for, or aren’t comfortable up on a ladder, a professional inspection can help.

Once the weather turns, here are a few warning signs you can look for inside of your house and in your yard:

• Pools of water on your lawn, near your foundation, or on your driveway. All of these are signals that water isn’t draining properly. It might also mean your downspouts aren’t connected properly.
• Dripping gutters or gutters which aren’t draining at all. If water isn’t draining smoothly, it probably means you’ve got a clog or a leak somewhere in your gutters.
• Water where it shouldn’t be. Are there drips inside your house? Pools of water in your basement? These are major warning signs: Your foundation or your roof could be at risk.
• Signs of animal life. Are you seeing bugs in your house? Hearing mice in your attic or walls? These critters could be nesting in clogged gutters.

The short answer is at least twice per year. Ideally, they should have any debris removed after the leaves have fallen from the trees near your home. A good rule of thumb to remember when to clean your gutters is to pair it with another home-related task, such as:

• swapping out the batteries in your smoke detector
• changing the light bulbs on your porch
• getting your vehicle’s tires rotated
• paying your auto insurance premiums
• resetting your clocks for Daylight Saving Time

However, there are instances when you should remove the debris from your gutters more than just two times each year. A good example may be after a severe storm which blew substantial leaves, twigs, and other objects onto your roof. Also, if you have several trees with branches that hang over (and drop leaves onto) your roof, your home may require more frequent gutter cleanings. Finally, if your home is placed in a downhill position from one or more homes or buildings where debris from those homes easily gets blown onto your roof, then debris may accumulate in your gutters at a more rapid rate, which in turn may necessitate additional gutter cleanings.