Consequences of Clogged Gutters
Clogged gutters cause the water that flows into them to soak through, soaking your home’s foundation. This will damage your home and lead to a variety of problems. Free-standing water and debris filled gutters are also a haven for critters. Their fecal waste harbors pathogens that can make you sick.
Damage to Your Foundation
Clogged gutters allow water to gather around the foundation of your house. This may result in cracks, shifting, settling and other issues that require costly repairs. Gutter systems help divert rainwater and melting snow away from the foundation of your home. This will also protect your landscaping from soil erosion, as well as prevent water from pooling in certain areas.
As dirt, debris, leaves and standing water collect in clogged gutters, pests like birds, rodents and mosquitoes find the perfect place to live or breed. These pests can cause damage to your roof and even break down wood fascia, which will cost you money in the long run. They can also carry bacteria, viruses and other harmful substances into your home, which puts your family’s health at risk.
Water Damage to Your Attic
The purpose of gutters is to channel rainwater away from the foundation, but if they’re clogged they can’t do that. Instead, water that’s not able to escape through the spouts will start to build up on your roof and attic. Over time, this can lead to mold and mildew, rotten wood, and water damage in the ceiling.
Since mold spores need moisture to grow, a clogged gutter is the perfect breeding ground for this harmful bacteria. Signs of this problem include a musty smell, a damp attic space, and moisture seeping into wall materials like drywall and wood framing. The simplest solution is to keep your gutters clean. This will prevent clogs and overflowing, which can cause serious damage to your home.
Moldy Smells
Having your gutters cleaned on a regular basis is a necessary task that prevents the buildup of mildew and mold. The growth of these things not only makes your building look ugly, but it can also create a health hazard for your family members. Moldy and mildewed areas also attract critters that are attracted to damp and moisture dense environments. Some of these critters can cause serious damage to your building and may even enter the house, which is a major health hazard.
When a home’s gutters become clogged, rainwater will begin to collect around the foundation of the building. This will cause the water to seep into the basement walls and eventually cause serious structural damage. The water will also cause rotting of the wood and lead to a variety of other problems that will require expensive remediation and repairs.
Animal Damage
A clogged gutter is a goldmine for all kinds of creatures, as the twigs, leaves, and pine needles offer easy nesting materials. Birds, squirrels, raccoons, mice, rats, and possums descend on dirty gutters in search of food and shelter.
Water flowing from clogged gutters spill over the sides and can cause the wood around windows, doors, fascia boards, and the roof to rot. This seepage can also lead to mold and mildew issues that are costly to eliminate.
In addition to structural damage, clogged gutters can lead to overflowing debris that may injure your landscaping softscape like flower beds and shrubs. Overflowing debris can also be a safety hazard and make it difficult to clean your gutters yourself. Gutter cleaning is best left to professionals who know how to work safely on ladders.
Health Issues
Many people don’t realize that clogged gutters can be a health issue for those inside the home. This is because water spilling over clogged gutters can fall on parts of the house that aren’t designed to be exposed to it, like walls, window frames and doors. This can cause them to rot and warp.
It can also lead to mold and mildew, which not only makes your home unsightly but it can actually be harmful to the health of you and your family. This is because mold spores can trigger respiratory issues such as coughing, wheezing and throat irritation.
Empire Window Cleaning
https://www.google.com/maps?cid=179019921911364350
435 Nichols Rd, Kansas City, MO 64112
(816) 739-5980
https://empirekc.com/
