6 Problems Caused By Not Cleaning Your Gutters Regularly

Your gutters provide the drainage for your home, moving water off and away from the roof to protect your precious belongings. But what happens when your gutters and downspouts stop draining? Read more to find out!

Don't remember the last time you cleaned your gutters? Then, it's likely been too long!

Cleaning your gutters is like brushing your teeth. If you miss a few cleanings, you might not see much of a difference.

But, habitually ignore your maintenance routine, and you'll end up with decay - a severe issue for your teeth and your home.

When left untended, organic materials like leaves, dirt, and branches can quickly take over and flood your gutters and roof, leaving a much bigger mess to clean up and repair. While local roofing companies in Hamilton like us can install your gutters, adopting the proper routine to maintain them 1-3 times a year can help you avoid these costly, home-damaging issues.

Learn more about the major issues that clogged gutters can cause and how you can adopt the proper way to clean gutters as a business or homeowner.

6 Problems Caused by Clogged Gutters

#1: Roof Leaks & Damage

When you aren't cleaning eavestrough and gutters regularly, every piece of debris that settles in your gutter redirects the flow of water - as it accumulates, blockages cause overflow on your roof.

With water consistently pooling, your roof may begin to rot, grow mildew and mold, and deteriorate your shingles. Even without major leaks, your roofing and shingles will likely need to be replaced earlier - standing water significantly shortens their lifespan.

If the problem is left untreated over time, these issues can start to move downward, causing leaks and water damage in your attic, ceiling, or walls.

#2: Insect Issues

What's an insect's favourite meal? The sludge and organic debris that ends up sitting from not regularly cleaning roof gutters. Once they realize it's an easy meal ticket, ants, cockroaches, termites, and other harmful insects and critters may start infesting your home.

Insects like mosquitoes and earwigs are attracted to sitting water, creating their own breeding ground and attracting rodents and other vermin that love to eat them, like birds and bats. Beyond the "ick" factor, some insects like termites and carpenter ants eat through your wood fascia and supports, causing major structural issues in your home.

#3: Foundation & Basement Damage

When water cannot drain safely away from your gutters, roof components become waterlogged, affecting more than just your ceiling and walls underneath. Water can flow down the sides of your home and into any existing cracks or window frames, leaking into your basement, causing structural damage, dangerous black mold or mildew, wood rot, and electrical problems.

Beyond the basement, that water may cause one of the most severe home-related issues - foundation damage. Absorbed moisture can cause your home's foundation to crack or buckle, leaving you with one of the most expensive and time-consuming repairs on your plate. Even without cracks to enter, as water drains down your home and sinks under your foundation, it may shift and cause serious damage.

#4: Driveway & Landscaping Damage

If you ignore your blocked gutter cleaning for some time, water can seep into the topsoil and landscaping surrounding your home. As a result, your gardens, plants, and trees receive too much water, damaging your foliage and eroding any wood chips, mulch, or ground coverings.

With your driveway close by, it's also affected when you stop cleaning your gutters. Too much waterfall can cause premature cracking and shifting, and during the wintry months, an icy driveway becomes a serious safety hazard.

#5: Fascia & Soffits

When you don't clean your own gutters or hire gutter cleaners regularly, they become heavier as they're weighed down by dirt and debris. That weight can significantly damage your soffits and fascia, causing cracks and damage to the underside of your roof that let more water into your home and significantly affect your curb appeal.

#6: Gutter Damage

Without a clean roof and gutters, you'll inevitably need to replace your old gutters with a brand new gutters installation much sooner than you would with proper maintenance. You can DIY your house gutter cleaning if you'd like a cheaper fix, but even hiring gutter cleaning services will save you money over the long run - a complete gutter replacement is costly.

Maintenance Tips & Signs of Danger

The best way to clean your gutters is regularly.

To keep your home, roof, and gutter system in great shape, perform a gutter and eaves cleaning every 2-3 times per year. Most clients find that a spring and fall cleaning is more than enough unless they have a home on a wooded lot with lots of falling debris and plant matter.

Signs it's Time for Rain Gutter Cleaning

Look for these telltales signs that you're long overdue for some gutter cleaners:

• Water overflowing from the gutter during light or heavy rain

• Moss growing around the gutter, roof, and surrounding area

• Water staining along the perimeter of your home

• Unexplained water damage in your home - attic, ceilings, window frames, basements, and foundations can all be affected

Roof & Gutters Installation Hamilton

Looking for a gutter repair or installation? We're the best roofing company in Hamilton, ON, and we'd be happy to help you. Call us to discuss how gutters are installed and book a free cost estimate. Call (905) 544-4667 or send a message today.