“If you ignore your teeth, they’ll go away …” This is what my dad used to say to motivate me to brush my teeth as a small child. And though that’s not quite true of gutters, you could say, “If you ignore your gutters, you’re going to have massive problems that will really make you wish you’d just gotten up on that ladder to clean them out!” … but it doesn’t roll of the tongue in the same way. It’s true, though — looking after your gutters is an essential part of looking after your home. Your gutters do a lot of heavy lifting (not literally, most of the time) in terms of extending the life of your roof, protecting your foundation and your landscaping, and keeping snow, ice, and water outside of your house and away from your roof.
What Do Your Gutters Do for You?
Longer Roof Lifespan
When gutters are installed properly and kept clear, they do an excellent job of protecting your roof. Gutters guide rainwater, snowmelt, and smaller debris off of your roof and away from the roof edges, and then down the downspouts. Without gutters, the water that collects on your roof would run off or along your roof edges, sometimes dripping underneath and running along the walls of your home. Sometimes this collected water (especially when it freezes) can back up under the roof surface causing damage to the roof’s structure. When gutters are present, but have leaks or cracks that allow the water to come out before it reaches the downspouts, this can create a waterfall that can run down your home’s exterior, finding any possible way into your home (window frames are a common ingress point for water that runs along a home’s exterior walls). This water can get into your home and cause all sorts of damage to structures and belongings.
Protecting Your Foundation (and Your Landscaping)
When gutters are present, but are blocked up with debris, the water can spill over the edges of the gutters and pour down along the side of the house, inundating the soil around the house’s foundation and damaging any plants or landscaping it falls on. Over time, this extra inundation can seep into your home’s foundation, and sometimes even find its way into your basement.
Keeping Your Home Dry (and Mold-Free)
When water gets inside your home, either by backing up under the roof’s surface due to blocked up gutters, or through a window frame due to damaged, leaky gutters, you can end up with a host of nasty problems. From warped wood to black mold, there’s no good consequence of water getting into your home. Especially when water collects in attic insulation or behind walls (both of which are pretty common in cases of neglected gutters) it can take a long time to notice the damage, and all the while your home has been deteriorating and your health has been affected from exposure to this water and mold.
What Do Your Gutters Need from You?
Annual Cleaning
The single most important thing your gutters need from you is for you to clean them out (or have them cleaned out) at least once per year. For most homeowners, a gutter cleaning once per year is sufficient to keep things moving smoothly. All that is needed in most cases is a sturdy ladder, a hose, some robust gloves and a little determination. (If climbing up on a ladder and digging sludge out of your gutter isn’t your idea of a well-spent Saturday, you can also give your local gutter company a call and set up an appointment for us to take care of this for you.)
A Look Over
While you’re up on that ladder, give your gutters a good look. Everything should look smooth and well connected, with no dents, sagging parts, or cracks. If you notice any problems, you’ll need to give your local gutter or roofing contractor a call to check up on it.
Professional Service
When you notice a problem, or suspect everything is not quite right with your gutters, don’t delay in calling a professional out to assess and address the situation. We have experience with gutter problems, and we’d love to help your gutters get back to doing their job in protecting your home.