Gutters serve an important function to our houses in making sure that they guide and transport rainwater off of the roof and away from the foundation of the home. Unfortunately, that also means that unwelcome items such as leaves, dirt, and sticks can get stuck in them, leading to a clog that prevents them from doing their function. Because of this, it’s important to clean them out and get rid of any debris.
It’s not easy to take a look at your gutters and spot any issues making it tough to know if there’s a problem.
So, how often should they be cleaned?
Like many other areas of home cleaning and repair, how often you clean your gutters depends on other factors such as the amount of rain you receive and the number of trees that hang over your roof and gutters. Ideally, it is best to keep in mind that you should clean your gutters at least twice a year: in the spring and in the fall. Specifically cleaning your gutters during these two seasons when the temperature changes greatly, there are more storms, and more leaves and debris fall from the trees.
What happens if they’re not cleaned?
If there is a clog in the gutters, water can’t freely flow through, and it will sit there. Leaves sitting in the still water can grow mold that you don’t want to get inside your house. Sitting water also attracts bugs. Other problems that can arise are flooding in your house, damaged roofs, cracks in the home foundation, and yard or driveway damage. All of these problems can be very serious and costly to fix.
If you need professional help cleaning your gutters that’s quick and easy or help correcting the damage that your gutters have caused, give Landmark Exteriors a call at (203) 838-3838.