Running a household is never an easy task. If someone tried to tell you otherwise, they would be lying through their teeth. Not only do you have to take great care of your family and kids, but you also have to maintain your entire property.
If you have a large property, you know by now that there is always something to do around. Maybe something has to be repaired, or something has to be upgraded. In this article, we will focus on gutters. For some reason, a lot of people forget about them, but they are essential since not only do they protect the house from water damage, but they also prevent soil erosion. If it has been a while since you last cleaned them, keep reading on because we will discuss the signs that tell you it is the time to deal with these.
1. Mildew
The first thing that you should do is inspect the foundation and the fascia boards behind the gutters. If you find any stains or mildew on these, it is a sure sign that there is a problem with the system that you have to resolve as soon as possible. The gutters may be clogged, or there are some damages that prevent water from flowing. When this occurs, the rainfall will find another outlet, and therefore, over time, destroy your home.
2. Debris
There isn’t anything you can do to prevent leaves and debris from ending in your gutters. With the help of the wind and rain, they will always find their way. However, if you do not remove them a few times a year, the chances are that they will clog the system. This will further lead to water overflowing, and it will also become a breeding environment for pests and insects. The only way to prevent this is to inspect the gutters every few months and remove the debris if necessary.
3. Plants
Have you noticed some small plants growing in your gutters? That’s right. They shouldn’t be there, which means that it is time to do some cleaning. Just like with the leaves and debris, the wind can blow the seeds, and if you haven’t cleaned the system in a while, meaning that there is already some dirt, those plants will start to grow. It is as simple as that, so the only way to prevent this from happening is to regularly remove all the leaves and debris.
4. Pests
We have already mentioned these as one of the many consequences of sagging gutters. Nevertheless, if you notice mice or other small creatures in your system, you have to act immediately. First of all, they can destroy your home overtime. Secondly, they can get into your basement or garage, and as you know, they transmit numerous diseases. Finally, according to gutterspecialists.co.uk they can attract other animals like snakes, and having these around is dangerous, especially if you have small kids. If you notice any of these around your property, the gutter system is the first thing that you should inspect. What’s more, depending on the situation, it may be a good idea to hire a professional gutter cleaning crew to help you get rid of these safely.
5. Sagging gutters
Leaves and dirt won’t only prevent the water from flowing through the system and therefore cause stains and mildews, but the debris can become quite heavy overtime. The gutters aren’t strong enough to support this extra weight, which means that they will eventually bend, detach, and break. If this were to happen, you would have to repair the damage or even maybe rebuild the entire system, which can be very costly.
6. Seasonal cleaning
Remember when we said that you should do the cleaning a few times a year? Well, it is something that has to be done in the early fall, before the heavy rainfall period begins. Make sure to inspect the entire system, remove all the dirt and debris, and check if there are any damages. If you skip this final step, the chances of the gutters breaking will increase due to the heavy rainfall and that extra weight we have already discussed.
In addition, there is another reason why you must do this. During winter, when the temperature drops, the water can easily freeze if it cannot flow through the system. That’s right. The ice can create an entirely new set of problems, and you have to prevent them from occurring.
7. When did you last clean it?
Lastly, this is the question that you have to ask yourself. If you did it a few weeks or a month or two ago, you are probably good. However, if you cannot remember the last time you did this chore, you might be in serious trouble. Not only do you have to clean the system as soon as possible, but it is also of utmost importance to carefully inspect it and check if it is damaged. If you notice any kind of issue, you have to repair them immediately. You really shouldn’t postpone this task because fixing something that you could have prevented will cost you a lot of money.
The importance of regular maintenance
Before we conclude this text, let us tell you about some of the many problems that can arise if you do not maintain the gutters. First of all, if the system isn’t working properly, meaning that the water isn’t flowing away from your house, over time, it will damage the foundation and the roof. Not only could you end up with leaks, but the water will weaken the structure, meaning that there would be the risk of the roof collapsing.
Furthermore, there are the fascia boards that are usually made out of wood and that hold the entire system in its place. If the water starts overflowing, these boards will rot, and the same thing will happen to the sides of the house if it has wood siding.
Finally, there is your garden. If you have a green thumb, and therefore, have a lot of plants, bushes, and flower beds around your home, these can easily be destroyed by the excess water falling from clogged gutters.
