The Silent Damage Clogged Gutters Do to Your Home
Homeowners always have a list of things to care for to protect their investment.
You may know about the importance of inspecting the foundation or caring for landscape, but what about your gutters?
Clogged gutters seem like a small issue, but actually cause a lot of silent damage that can be pricey, serious business.
Let's dive in so that you know all about this problem and can work to fix it at once.
Are Clogged Gutters Really That Big A Deal?
Simply put, yes.
When your gutters are clogged, your home has no way of draining water after a heavy rain. This is especially taxing to your home if you live in southern cities like Charlotte that can get hit with summer rain and the occassional tropical storm.
These points below illustrate exactly what clogged gutters do to your home and why you need to avoid them:
1. Your Roof Will Begin To Leak
The telltale sign of clogged gutters is a roof that just won't stop leaking.
When the rain gutters are not able to serve their purpose, water will sit on top of your roof until it becomes too heavy to deal with.
As this happens, you'll notice water dripping from your ceiling. The leaks will get worse until you get rid of the standing water and clear your gutters.
If you notice your roof leaking, be sure to also remove any debris from the gutters to prevent further leaks.
2. Mold And Water Damage Will Accumulate
It's only a matter of time before standing water turns into mold. You know you have a problem when mold is beginning to breed inside of your roof, attic, and the walls of your house.
Getting rid of mold can be a pricey proposition, as contractors charge between $500 and $6,000. This can be a serious blow — particularly because the accumulation of mold is entirely avoidable.
Aside from the price you will have to pay to get rid of mold, it's also very damaging to your health if you come in contact with it. Mold is known to make allergies worse and can create skin irritation.
In addition to mold, sitting water will wear away at the wood of your household. The wood will begin to get soggy and rot. Left long enough, your home structure could begin to deteriorate, requiring extensive repairs.
3. The Foundation Will Be Compromised
When water cannot be properly drained from your property, you also allow your foundation to sustain damages.
As you well know, the foundation is the most important fixture in your entire house. When your foundation is compromised, the whole house is in danger.
A foundation repair from a Charlotte contractor can cost between approximately $2000 and $6000. Taking care of your gutters is a much easier way to sustain the foundation and far less costly.
When you have a bad foundation, your entire property value takes a significant hit as well. You greatly reduce the ability to sell a home that has a damaged foundation and will have your work cut out for you.
4. Your Yard And Landscape Will Suffer
All the hard work that you put into your grass, flower beds and shrubs will go to waste if you let your gutters clog.
Clogged gutters cause water to spill out and wash away your plants. You may also notice puddles in your lawn and will need to re-plant grass that is too damaged to continuously grow.
Since curb appeal is a huge determining factor in your property value, this goes much deeper than simple matters of appearance.
5. You Shorten The Lifespan Of Your Roof
When you buy a roof, the hope is for it to last between 15 and 30 years.
A roof replacement can be expensive and it's important to maximize the value of your current roof. When you let your roof sustain continuous damage every time it rains, the clock is ticking and you greatly diminish its lifespan.
Something as simple as cleaning out your rain gutters can help you get the absolute most of your roof and will make sure that you're not having to get costly repairs in the meantime.
Cleaning clogged gutters is essential for the value of the roof and your peace of mind as a homeowner.
Take Action And Clean Your Gutters
Now that you know a bit about cleaning clogged gutters, the ball is in your court.
Take these five tips and keep them in mind for as long as you own your home. If you've never cleaned your gutters before, you should know a bit about the process.
DIY Safety Precautions
First of all, you need to make sure that you're focused on safety.
Buy a sturdy ladder that can support your weight without falling or teetering. Wear a pair of shoes that have plenty of grip and avoid wearing clothing that can snag.
Grab a water hose and turn it on, pouring the water into the downspout of the gutters. Never use sharp tools like a garden hoe or a rake to remove leaves and debris from the gutters.
It's also worth your while to wear some goggles so that you don't damage your eye with any debris that flies out when cleaning the gutters. You'll know that the gutters are clean when water is able to flow freely out of the gutters.
Hire a Professional Today
You need to clean your gutters one or two times per year in most cases. If you live somewhere that experiences heavy rain and plenty of leaves during the fall, it might be worth it to clean out your gutters quarterly.
If you need some help, you can always hire the help of a pro that will clean your gutters quickly and properly.
Hiring professional gutter cleaning services in Charlotte is a cost-effective and smart way to keep your home in tip-top shape. Start reaching out to a few seasoned professionals to make sure you're spending your money with a company that gets the job done correctly.
Now that you know how much a silent danger clogged gutters are to your home, take a look at how we can help and contact us for a free price quote today!
