Gutter cleaning is one of the most important parts of home maintenance. It protects your roof, siding, and foundation from water damage and improves curb appeal.
Gutters tunnel rainwater off your roof to the ground through downspouts. But leaves, twigs, dirt, and seeds can get trapped inside, clogging gutter systems. Contact Charleston Gutter Solutions now!
- Prevents Roof Damage
Gutter systems are designed to channel water away from a house’s roof and foundation. But if they become clogged, water will build up on the roof and cause leaks, which can be extremely costly to repair. A regular schedule of gutter cleaning helps prevent this.
If left unattended, a clogged gutter can cause rot to fascia boards, rafter tails, and even the roof sheathing. This can be a major problem because these areas are usually not easily accessible, and repairing them can be expensive. Gutter cleaning prevents these problems by ensuring that the gutter is clear of leaves, twigs, dirt, and other debris.
In addition, a clogged gutter can also create standing water which may stain the fascia boards. In the winter, this can lead to ice dams which in turn can cause further damage to the roof and leaks into the home. Regular cleaning eliminates these issues by allowing the rainwater to flow freely from the roof and down the gutters.
Standing water and rotting debris also provides a perfect habitat for pests like mosquitoes, carpenter ants and termites which can all enter the house through the fascia boards or attics. Additionally, pests in a clogged gutter can spread diseases such as the West Nile virus. Gutter cleaning removes these enticing environments to help protect the property from unwanted insects and rodents.
Finally, a clogged gutter can trap melting snow during the winter which in turn can lead to ice dams and further roof damage. When the ice dams melt and the water flows down the gutter, it can force itself under the shingles and cause leaks. This is why combining gutter cleaning with roof maintenance is so important.
Gutters are an essential part of any home or building. However, they can be easy to overlook because they are out of sight and mind until there is a problem. A routine schedule of gutter cleaning can prevent all of these problems and ensure that your home is protected for years to come. While many people are hesitant to hire a professional service to clean the gutters, those who are comfortable on ladders can do the job themselves for a fraction of the cost of hiring a professional. Just make sure to practice ladder safety and use caution.
- Prevents Ice Dams
When ice dams form, they stop water and snow from being carried away from your roof. As a result, this moisture finds another way to escape your home – through leaks in the roof and gutters, as well as wall cavities and basements. They also add a lot of weight to your roof and gutters, which can cause them to bend or break. If the ice dams fall off the roof, they can damage windows and landscaping below your home.
Gutter cleaning can prevent the formation of ice dams. When your gutters are clogged with leaves, twigs and other debris, melting snow and rain cannot flow through them freely. Instead, they re-freeze at night along the eaves and create layers of ice known as ice dams. These dams can block water from flowing off the roof and into gutters, creating a build-up of ice that paves the way for more ice to form over time.
If the ice dams build up enough, they can tear off the shingles and cause gutter damage. They can also block the ventilation of your attic, allowing moisture to build up in the insulation and walls of your home. As a result, these conditions can lead to mold, mildew, rot and structural damage.
Professional gutter cleaning can prevent ice dams from forming. Using a telescoping gutter cleaning wand (or a ladder) with proper safety equipment, a professional crew will remove all debris and ensure your gutters can drain melting snow easily. They can also inspect your attic for inadequate insulation and ventilation, which is a common cause of uneven roof temperatures and ice dams.
Getting your gutters cleaned twice a year is the best way to keep them free of ice dams and other problems. However, if you notice high energy bills, constant ice dams or water drips from the attic, it may be time to hire professionals for roof and gutter maintenance.
- Prevents Pests
While many homeowners know gutter cleaning is important to prevent water damage, few are aware that it also helps prevent pest infestations. Clogged gutters are a breeding ground for mosquitoes, gnats, flies, rodents, and other unwanted critters. Regular professional gutter cleaning eliminates these pest-attracting elements, making your home less of a welcoming destination for creatures looking for shelter and food.
Mosquitoes thrive in clogged gutters, where they can lay their eggs and develop through their four-stage life cycle (egg, larva, pupa, and adult). They aren’t just annoying; they can also carry dangerous diseases like Zika, West Nile virus, Chikungunya, dengue, and malaria. Regular gutter cleaning helps to reduce mosquito populations, making your backyard a safer place for family and friends to enjoy the outdoors.
Clogged gutters also attract rodents, birds, and insects, as they provide a cozy place to hide and nest. Once these critters take up residence, they can cause serious structural damage to your roof, fascia boards, and walls. In addition, they can block rainwater flow, further exacerbating the clog and increasing your risk of roof damage. Regular gutter cleaning can help to deter pests, and a good gutter guard will further protect your gutters from animal debris.
A well-maintained gutter system will also discourage bird and rodent nesting near your roofline, preventing future blockages. If you’re concerned about animal nesting in your gutters, ask a professional to recommend a good pest repellent. Natural solutions, such as peppermint oil and vinegar sprays, can effectively deter ants, rodents, and other pests without the use of harsh chemicals or harming the environment.
Clogged gutters can even invite cockroaches, which are attracted to moisture and food sources. If left unchecked, a cockroach infestation can grow into a full-blown roach epidemic in your entire house. By removing a cockroach’s breeding grounds and food sources, you can eliminate them from your property for good.
- Prevents Mold and Mildew
Gutter cleaning prevents mold and mildew, and helps improve the indoor air quality of your home. This is because clogged gutters become a breeding ground for pests, rodents, and bacteria, which then infiltrate your home’s living space. These harmful microorganisms release spores, mycotoxins, and allergens into the indoor air, causing allergic reactions and respiratory issues.
Besides being unsightly, these fungi also threaten the structural integrity of your home. The spores from mold and mildew will eventually deteriorate the wooden materials in your roof, leading to sagging and moisture damage over time. Gutter cleaning eliminates the clogs and restores gutters to full drainage capacity, keeping them protected against fungal growth.
Regular gutter cleaning ensures proper runoff control, preventing excess moisture from seeping into siding cracks, fascia boards, and other vulnerable areas. Moisture in these areas will encourage mold and mildew, which will damage your home’s structure and lead to costly repairs. Gutter cleaning removes the clogs and cleans out debris like leaves, twigs, and roof sediment to prevent water accumulation and direct the flow of rainwater correctly away from your home.
Moisture damage from clogged gutters introduces a host of hazardous contaminants into your home’s environment, including mycotoxins, allergens, and volatile organic compounds from decaying organic material. Inhaling these toxins can cause everything from allergic reactions and respiratory distress to opportunistic infections, chronic fatigue, and even memory loss over time.
Dirty gutters can also contaminate your indoor air with rodent dander, mold spores, and other particulate matter. If left unchecked, these pollutants will circulate throughout your house’s ventilation system and infiltrate every room. Moreover, these contaminants will generate uncomfortable allergy symptoms and aggravate existing conditions such as asthma, bronchitis, and eczema. Gutter cleaning, along with a multi-pronged approach such as air filters and hygiene practices, reduces avoidable allergen load in your home’s indoor air to minimize discomfort, illness, and long term health risks.
As the winter season approaches it is important to take stock of your home’s condition and schedule gutter cleaning services. It is a good idea to schedule gutter cleaning before the predominant leaf and needle fall in your area, or immediately afterward, depending on your location. This way you will have clean, mold-free gutters for the rest of the year.