As a homeowner, you likely have a long list of things to do every fall before the cold weather really settles in. Cleaning your gutters to remove the leaves, sticks, and other debris that built up over the year should be a top priority on your fall checklist if it isn’t already, especially if you live in an area with a lot of trees. Keeping buildup out of gutters is critical for protecting the structure of your home and preventing what are often costly issues in the future. There are many reasons why cleaning your gutters is important, and we’ve outlined five of them below.
Prevent water damage: When gutters and downspouts are blocked with leaves and other debris, water cannot drain properly and route away from the house. Water will have no other choice but to overflow from your gutters, which can cause water damage on both the interior and exterior of your home and lead to foundation cracks.
Protect your roof: Clogged gutters leave rainwater nowhere to go but onto the roof or over the edge. When water is allowed to spill over, it can leave rotten or a leaky roof in its wake.
Keep pests from causing problems: Gutters clogged with debris can make desirable homes for rodents, birds, insects and other pests. The last thing you want is a pest infestation in your home from something that could be so easily remedied.
Reduce the risk of a cracked foundation: When water isn’t allowed to travel away from your home, it will pool around the foundation of your house. This water can easily crack your foundation when it goes through the cycle of expanding and freezing in the winter months.
Save you money: Gutter and downspout cleaning in an inexpensive chore that helps prevent unexpected and expensive problems down the road. Taking preventive measures now can help minimize the likelihood of having to repair or replace your roof, your foundation, and other parts of your house later.
Now that you’re familiar with the importance of gutter cleaning, give Capital City a call! While there’s no one-size-fits-all answer for how often you should clean your gutters, clearing gutters every fall, at a minimum, can help alleviate the risk of a lot of potential homeowner headache. Want to avoid gutter cleaning all together? Consider installing gutter guards (we can help with that too)!
The experienced professionals at Capital City are licensed roofing contractors in Springfield IL and can help with everything from gutter cleaning to roof replacement. Call today for a free estimate on your next project!
