No doubt fall is a mesmerizing season, but it also brings a mess, namely, falling leaves and debris. While preparing your home for winter, don’t forget to clean your gutters. It is a crucial task because they are not only an eyesore, but they can also result in expensive and drastic damage.
Here are five essential reasons why you should tackle this chore before the first heavy rain or snow.
1. Prevents Costly Water Damage to Your Foundation
When your gutters are blocked, it stops the rainwater from properly draining away. Instead, the water overflows and starts accumulating around your home’s foundation. Over time, this constant saturation tends to erode the soil, causing foundation damage, including shifting and cracks. Getting your foundation repaired is one of the most expensive home repairs; therefore, a quick gutter cleaning is a far more cost-effective solution.
2. Protects Your Roof and Fascia Boards
Clogged gutters cause water to back up. It lets seepage under your roof shingles and also behind the fascia boards. These are long, straight boards running along your roofline. This persistent moisture can result in wood rotting in the fascia, roof decking, and soffit. The rotten wood compromises your roof’s structural integrity, attracting pest invasion. Therefore, protecting your roof and fascia boards ensures water flows smoothly, guarding these crucial wooden components.
3. Wards Off Pesky Insects and Vermin
A mixture of organic debris, damp leaves, and standing water creates a tempting environment for various pests. For instance, mosquitoes breed in standing water, while termites, carpenter ants, and mice are more attracted to moist, decaying plant matter. Remove the clogs, and you will end their breeding ground, helping to keep unwanted critters at bay from your wooden layouts.
4. Stops Ice Dams in the Winter
When you frequently clean your gutters, you will prevent the creation of ice dams during the winter. The gutters full of leaves fail to channel the melting snow off your roof effectively. The trapped water refreezes near the roof’s cool edge, forming an ice barrier. This dam forces the meltwater to back up under the shingles, resulting in major water leaks inside your dwelling. Further damaging ceilings and walls.
5. Preserves Your Landscaping and Driveway
This overflowing water not only damages your foundation but also causes localized erosion. The blocked gutter’s forceful runoff can dig trenches in your flowerbeds, damage your delicate plants, and spray dirt onto your siding. If this water enters your driveway, freezers, or walkways, you or any of your family members could slip and get injured. So, a clear gutter ensures that water is safely directed away via the downspout, protecting your landscape and paved surfaces.
If you need a professional and reliable hand to clean gutters, reach out to Reynolds Gutter. They have the proper equipment and tools to help you clean them this fall.