Ways Clogged Gutters Can Damage Your Home
Gutters require regular inspection and cleaning because they collect dust, leaves, and twigs throughout the year. However, most homeowners ignore their roofing system during home improvement projects. Failure to remove these twigs, dry leaves, and other debris can lead to expensive damages. During this time of year when leaves are falling and gutters are fillings, we emphasize the importance of gutter care. Here are the ways blocked gutters can affect your home.
1. Damaging The Gutters
Clogged gutters overflow with water, mud, and debris. Additionally, the organic matter collecting inside, combined with water and sunshine, creates perfect conditions for fungi and other plants to grow.
These components add a lot of weight and cause the gutters to sag and bend. The gutters can also detach from the roof if the weight becomes too much. The falling gutters and the gaps they create can cause severe problems like injuring someone.
Moreover, a house with sagging or broken gutters is not appealing. Consider scheduling for professional gutter repair or gutter replacement if you want to maintain a beautiful home.
2. Foundation Damage
The role of a gutter system is to divert water away from your home and into the drainage system through a downspout. If these gutters clog due to dust or twigs from nearby trees, rainwater overflows and pools at your home’s foundation and starts leaking into the ground.
Over time, this water exerts pressure against the basement and causes it to crack. If left unattended, this situation can weaken your walls and cause cracks. In severe cases, it can interfere with the structural integrity of your home and may even cause it to collapse.
3. Ice Dams
During the cold season, the water in clogged gutters freezes and forms ice dams. At first, these dams may not seem like an issue. However, they eventually start to melt. When this happens, the water begins to seep into the walls and roof.
This puts your house at risk of structural damage. It can also facilitate mold growth on the fascia boards. After cleaning the gutters, you should consider installing ice shields for additional protection before the winter season arrives.
4. Roof Leaks
The water that floods in your gutters can damage the roof’s edges and the wood underneath it. Excess moisture can also cause fascia boards to rot. Consequently, the roof will start leaking and becoming weak. You will also start to notice stains on your walls and ceiling.
If this problem happens, you should call Pierce Roofing for gutter repair services immediately. An expert will inspect the entire roof and repair or replace the dented shingles. In some cases, we may need to do a roof replacement. Generally, the water damage that clogged gutters cause reduces your roof’s lifespan.
5. Damaging Your Landscaping
Failing to clean or clear your gutters puts your beautiful garden beds at risk of water damage. When dirt clogs your gutters, water starts overflowing from the side and onto your landscape. It may leave huge dents and kill your plants or flowers, meaning that you will need to replant them again. This water can also carry away soil and mulch from the garden beds.
6. Damaged Siding
Clogged gutters cause water damage that further destroys other external parts of your home. For example, it causes water to overflow, spill over the gutters, and seep into the windows frames and siding.
If you allow the problem to remain unresolved for days or months, parts of your siding will start to rot and need urgent replacement. Additionally, rainwater will start leaking into the walls and causing mold issues.
7. Pest And Insect Infestation
The dirty and wet conditions that clogged gutters create provide a conducive breeding site for insects and pests. For example, mosquitos reproduce in swampy environments. Spiders, rats, and lizards can also build nests in the clogged gutters or swarm around your house once there are perfect conditions.
Additionally, ants and termites live in and feed on the rotten wood under a leaking roof. If you fail to treat this situation, the termites will eat more wood, leading to severe structural damage.
These creepy crawlies will also start swarming in your house through open windows if the gutters remain dirty for longer. This situation can endanger your health and of everyone else living in the house.
8. Mold And Mildew
The dead leaves, dust, and debris in your gutters prevent rainwater from flowing smoothly from the roof and into the drainage system. As a result, the water floods in the gutters and facilitates the mold and mildew growth in your property. This situation will cause a foul odor in your home.
The mold issue is also dangerous because it triggers asthma attacks and causes other allergic reactions, such as sneezing, coughing, and eye irritation. These symptoms tend to be more severe among children. Therefore, protect yourself and your loved ones by preventing dampness in your roof and gutters.
9. Driveway Damage
People with driveways should care for their gutters by cleaning them regularly or hiring professional gutter repair when necessary. This is because water overflowing from clogged gutters can damage this important section of your home.
When the water sits on the path for long, it can seep into the ground and cause cracks. Repairing the driveway is more expensive than cleaning your gutters. The water can also cause slippery surfaces and increase the risk of falls and accidents in your compound.
In summary, leaving your gutters unattended for an extended period exposes your home and family to severe issues. The best preventive strategy is to keep your gutters clean. Consider hiring professional gutter cleaning and repair services rather than doing the task yourself. Contact Pierce Roofing to keep your home in the best shape.
