The Hidden Dangers of Clogged Gutters – What You Need to Know

The purpose of gutters is to direct water away from your home. When that fails to happen because gutters are clogged, trapped water starts causing damage which can become serious. In this article we discuss the hidden dangers of clogged gutters and how professional gutter cleaning keeps your home–and your wallet–safe.

What’s at risk from clogged gutters?

• Your roof
• Fascia
• Foundation
• Insect/Rodent Infestations

Roof

A big danger to roofs from clogged gutters comes at this time of year–winter. Because when water freezes, it expands. So if water is trapped in your gutters during freezing weather, it can expand into and under your roofing materials. Shingles are supposed to create a tight seal to keep water out. But ice lifts and damages shingles to create gaps that allow more water in. Once the seal is broken shingles no longer perform as well. Over time, this type of water ingress causes rot and structural degradation to your roof. This not only endangers the home’s residents, it risks amassing huge roof repairs bills.

Clean your gutters as a DIY project, or hire professionals. Schedule it ideally twice a year, or at minimum, once in the fall after trees have dropped their leaves.

Fascia

Fascia, to which gutters are attached, are especially vulnerable to trapped water because of their close proximity, and the weight of the extra water. Plus, because they're behind the gutter, it’s hard to see building damage. When exposed to trapped water over time, fascia begin to rot and the metal nails holding gutters in place begin to rust. You risk losing entire sections of your gutter system as fascia deteriorates. It is a lot more work and expense to replace fascia and fallen eavestroughing than it is to schedule gutter cleaning. Removing clogs regularly keeps this important part of your system in optimum condition.

Foundation

Gutter systems direct water away from your home to protect the foundation. When water spills from clogged gutters to pool around the base of your house, it risks eroding the foundation. Eroded foundations are susceptible to destabilisation and cracking, which leads to big issues, the least of which is a flooding basement. Do yourself a favor and check for free-flowing water from each of your downspouts. If the water flow is slow or blocked, arrange gutter clearing as soon as possible.

Insect/Rodent Infestations

Insect and rodent infestations are really hidden problems caused by clogged gutters. For example, it’s not just water getting into your basement through cracks in the foundation. Rodents can squeeze through too. If you have water issues due to clogged gutters, and mice or rats are getting in downstairs and you’re not sure how, it could be water-logged soil causing erosion leading to cracks in your foundation.

Also, wet or rotting wood anywhere on your house acts like a huge vacancy sign for carpenter ants. Moist, soft wood is the easiest place for them to make a nest and build a colony. That’s what happened to my own house. I noticed big, black ants going up to the roof. A few months later the roof sprung a leak. While fixing it, I saw all the tunnels they’d chewed through the damaged wood. They weren’t just living up there, they were thriving. I even found another area that hadn’t leaked yet but there was wet, deteriorating wood at the gutter level, and lots of ant tunnels.

So it pays, in so many ways to keep your gutters clean. If it’s not a job you can do, or want to do, yourself, hire professional gutter cleaners. They’re experts at what they do and will be in and out before you know it. Plus they do all the clean-up too. No stress, no mess, just peace of mind knowing your home is dry and safe.

2 Angels Home Services has the expert knowledge, skill and equipment to thoroughly clean the inside and/or outside of your gutters, helping to prevent damage and keep your home looking like new. Contact us today for a free, no-obligation quote. 604-825-1712