6 Reasons You Should Clean Your Gutter Regularly

6 Reasons You Should Clean Your Gutter Regularly

Gutter cleaning might not necessarily be the most fun weekend project, but it’s important to your house maintenance nonetheless. You might be easily tempted to skip cleaning your gutter, however, procrastination might lead to a number of problems that arise from the accumulation of debris.

The reality is, whether you’re going to do it yourself or hire professional gutter cleaning services, someone has to do it, sooner than later. Because if water is not able to properly flow away from your house, then damage can result in a number of different locations, from your roofing to your foundation.

There’s more to gutter cleaning than just removing debris and making them look better. Let’s have a quick look at some of the possible reasons why you should hire a professional for regular gutter cleaning.

1. Prevents Leaks Around your Home

Leaks around your house can occur anywhere, anytime. If your gutters are clogged, water can pool and place a lot of stress on your drainage system leading to damage. Additionally, the clogged water can also run into parts of your home where it can cause damage.

If water runs into your roof space, it can cause damage to the roof structure or shingles. Your gutter can also leak from the joints, causing the water to run over your siding and damage the paint job. If the problem is not addressed in good time, water can pool at the ground level and even cause leaks into your basement. Regularly cleaning your gutter can help address these problems.

2. Cracks in the Structure of your Property

When the gutters are not regularly cleaned and repaired, and water runs into the walls or foundation for too long, it can cause extensive damage to your property. During freezing temperatures, the accumulated water expands to form ice and this can cause cracks to form in the walls and the foundation. Other than posing a safety risk and potential for major damage, fixing these kinds of cracks can be extremely expensive.

3. Damage to Sidewalks

An occasional water splash on your sidewalks poses little to no threat, however, when overflowing water from clogged gutters runs over your sidewalks for too long, it can cause damage. Moss will start growing on your wet sidewalks and create a slippery, hazardous surface. During winter, such water can quickly freeze and cause cracking on your sidewalk.

4. Prevents Damage to your Landscaping

Your garden can easily be ruined by overflowing water from clogged gutters directed to the wrong place. Plants, flower beds and lawns can be ruined by flooding water from the gutters. Your lawn might become muddy or even eroded and might need a new landscaping job and reseeding to bring it back to life. Surviving flowers and plants will start to look pale due to root clogging.

5. Infestations

There is a wide range of nasty bugs that prefer damp and dirty environments, and your clogged gutter full of wet debris forms just the right conditions. These conditions also form perfect breeding grounds for diseases causing bacteria and germs. To prevent this from happening, have your gutter cleaned on a regular basis so that it doesn’t attract insects.

6. Wood Damage Around your House

While water can damage pretty much any surface in your home, wood is particularly more susceptible. Water can easily damage wood and lead to expensive repairs that no homeowner wants to add to their budget. If your home has a wooden siding or has wooden structures, you need to be extra careful not to allow extended water exposure to these surfaces. And cleaning your gutters regularly is one of the ways to do just that.

Bottom Line

Gutter cleaning might sound like an easy, insignificant task, however, ignoring or procrastinating it can lead to untold damages to your property. If you need professional help cleaning and repairing your gutters, our expert team at Michael Hines Painting can help. Give us a call now for more details (209.256.4587).

Our other website is also available to help you with high-quality painting and the best finishes. Just contact Galt House Painter.