Clean gutters filter rainwater from the roof to the ground. When leaves, debris, or snow clog gutters, water cannot flow through the gutters away from the home.
Poorly maintained clogged gutters pose serious health risks and perpetrate substantial property damage. The experts at Castle Window Cleaning and Power Washing discuss what clogged gutters do to homes and how to keep gutters functioning correctly.
5 Most Common Dangers of Clogged Gutters
When homeowners neglect their gutters, pooling water and heavy gutters weighed down with leaves can damage the home in several ways.
Roof Damage
Pools of free-standing water on roofs form when water cannot flow away through the gutters. With nowhere else to go, the rainwater eventually leaks into the roof structure. Signs that indicate roof damage resulting from clogged gutters include leaking in the attic, cracks forming, and discoloration.
Minor roof damage becomes more serious over time and even leads to roof collapse. Instead of paying the hefty total roof replacement cost, consider calling professional gutter cleaning experts.
Wall Damage
Clean gutters direct water away from the vulnerable walls of houses. When gutters clog, rainwater can leak into walls. Water damage to walls compromises their structural integrity and exposes electrical systems to damage.
Signals that indicate wall water damage due to clogged gutters include paint chipping, staining of exterior siding, and basement flooding.
Foundation Damage
The foundation of a house is the most crucial load-bearing support system. Pooled water from clogged gutters leaks through the roof and walls and eventually consolidates on the foundation. Homes with unstable foundations risk severe structural damage.
During the winter, water trapped in concrete foundations eventually freezes, expands, and cracks the concrete, leading to unstable foundations.
Landscape Damage
Clogged gutters can leak water into unexpected places in your yard, destroying grass and damaging fragile flowers and shrubs. Landscape maintenance is expensive and time-consuming without flooding due to gutter problems, so homeowners should keep their gutters clean.
The best way to save money and protect delicate landscapes is by installing the right kind of gutter for your home and regularly cleaning the gutters.
Negative Health Impacts
Clogged gutters provide the perfect conditions for bacteria, mildew, and mold to thrive. The organic matter left in gutters decomposes and hosts various harmful spores and pathogens. If left untreated long enough, clogged gutters may collapse under the weight of decaying substances.
Particularly vulnerable to the overgrowth of bacteria include those with asthma, allergies, and difficulty breathing. Professional gutter cleaning services cost a fraction of the expense of eradicating mold.
Contact Castle Window Cleaning and Power Washing For More Information
Avoid costly repairs by contacting the clogged gutters experts at Castle Window Cleaning and Power Washing. For over 20 years, the Castle team has provided customers with expert gutter cleaning services at affordable prices. To learn more about the company's services, call (203) 428-7019.
