Why You Need to Clean Your Rain Gutters this Fall
Fall is finally here! That means it’s time for chilly weather, hot cocoa, and the changing colors of leaves all around your home. If you haven’t yet, now is a great time to rake up the leaves and twigs all around your yard. It’s also a great time to clean out your rain gutters! While it’s a task that most of us would rather avoid, cleaning your gutters regularly is important. Gutters help collect and direct rainwater away from your roof. Water buildup on your rooftops or near your eaves can cause serious water damage. Keeping your gutters clean can also help prevent costly repairs to your home caused by pests, and water damage from melting snow in the winter. Keep reading to learn more about why you need to clean your rain gutters regularly — but especially in the fall.
Clogged or blocked gutters can seriously damage your roof.
Rain gutters collect rainwater and melted snow that runs down from your roof. Then, they direct that water through downspouts and onto the ground away from your home. When your gutters are clogged or blocked, that water has nowhere to go! In the fall, this means that rainwater collects near the eaves — the place where your home’s roof meets or overlaps the walls. Water that settles here may seep down into the walls and can cause serious water damage to your ceiling or walls over time.. This problem gets worse during the winter. Water that freezes in your gutters only adds to the blockage. Then, as heat rises through your roof, the resulting snowmelt water becomes trapped against the eaves by a dam of snow and ice, and even sometimes builds up enough that it can pool up onto your roof.
Blocked gutters can damage other parts of your home, too.
Standing water left on or around your home for any amount of time has the potential to cause water damage. While water pooling on the roof is a serious issue, water that pools around your home’s foundation can also cause serious damage. If you have a basement, pooling rainwater around your home can leak into your home’s lower levels. This can lead to flooding, water damage, and mold growth if left unchecked. Proper rain gutter systems will direct rainwater away from your home, or toward a part of your home with a sufficient slope to lead it away from the foundation. The simplest solution to prevent this from happening is to clean out your gutters! It’s a good idea to have your gutters cleaned at least twice a year. You can do this task yourself, but you might prefer to call the professionals. It’s a dirty job, and without proper equipment, it can be a dangerous one, too.
Gutters filled with debris make a great home for pests.
Gutters that are filled with twigs, leaves, dirt, and other debris are a great hub for pests. This includes can include birds, insects, and rodents. Plant matter that is left to rot in the gutters is also a great place for molds and fungus to grow. In addition to being inconvenient, these different pests can be health hazards. Mold growing in and around your roof can cause allergy symptoms such as sneezing, congestion, itchy or runny noses. According to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, mold in the home can cause allergy symptoms year round. Remediation costs for rodent or insect damage can be anywhere from hundreds to thousands of dollars. It all depends on the size and scope of the infestation. Making sure that your gutters aren’t a convenient place to nest is a simple and effective way to reduce the chances of a pest infestation!
Now that you’re know how important gutter cleaning is, what is your next step? Clearing your gutters at least twice a year in the fall and spring can help reduce the risk of a homeowner headache. If you’re looking for a DIY guide on how to clean out your rain gutters, check out this previous blog post for step-by-step instructions!
Don’t hesitate to call a professional roofing company if you have any questions or concerns about the condition of your gutters. If you’re worried that your home is already dealing with water damage, pest problems, or mold growth from neglected gutters, don’t worry! The team at Elite Restoration is here 24/7, 365 to help get your house back into shape. Call us any time, or contact us online. With emergency response times of an hour or less, we’ll always be here when you need us.