Cleaning gutters isn’t everyone’s favourite pastime, and it’s easy to see why. It’s backbreaking labour that entails climbing up and down a ladder endlessly, making it dangerous as well. After a storm, the roof and ladder could be slippery as well, causing even more issues down the line.
Even though you only have to clean them twice a year, it appears to be an endless menial task that must always be done. However, there is one problem that is far worse: the consequences of not cleaning your gutters.
Here are 6 reasons to get your gutters cleaned:
Your roof can be damaged over time
If your gutters are clogged, the water flowing down from heavy rain can seep into the roof as well. These develop via tiny hairline fractures that gradually enlarge over time.
Fortunately here in Australia, the weather is hot for most of the year so we don’t have to deal with a lot of the freezing related issues that can come with gutters. But, if you live in a cold climate, you’re even more vulnerable. When the water inside these fissures freezes, it causes them to rapidly expand, which can do significant damage to your property much quicker than normal.
Unwanted visitors might make an appearance
All kinds of animals love clogged gutters since they contain a wealth of nutrients. Birds, mice, rats, and possums will swarm your filthy gutters in search of food, potentially damaging them.
Another potential disadvantage is that if left unattended for an extended period of time, the animals may enter your home via the gaps and cracks. At the very least, you’ll hear scratches or you’ll smell an obnoxious odour.
Mould can start to set in
Water seeping into your home through these cracks may lead to a severe mould or mildew infestation. Mould and mildew are prone to spread rapidly in the right conditions – usually humid and dark – and can quickly wipe out a large section of your property. Once these minute fungi have established colonies, eradicating them is difficult and expensive. In fact, it’s sometimes necessary to replace the entire carpeting beneath entire sections of it.
Not only that but some varieties are known to be quite poisonous. They can also cause throat irritation, cough, and wheezing in a lot of people. Pollen collect in uncleaned gutters throughout the spring, which can exacerbate allergy symptoms for allergy sufferers at that time of year.
Your insurance might not cover the cost of any damage
A responsible homeowner should get an insurance policy that covers any unintentional damage to their house. However, you’ll discover that no insurance policy will reimburse you for damage caused by neglect. And yes, failure to clean your gutters on a regular basis is considered negligence.
They’ll start to smell and can turn into an eyesore
If you care about the look of your house, it would be foolish not to maintain your gutters clean. Your roof will appear unclean if your gutters become clogged with leaves and debris, detracting from the beauty of your property. Also keep in mind that because of the moisture trapped within the leaves, they develop a musty odour that can occasionally be smelled from the ground.
Cleaning your gutters is a tedious task, but failing to do so is far more damaging in the long run. Keep these six factors in mind while deciding whether or not your gutters need to be cleaned. And keep this in mind: professional gutter cleaning services may complete it faster and less expensive than you think.
Structural damage to your home
Last but not least, structural damage can occur.
This is one of the biggest issues you could face if you leave your gutters dirty for too long.
Your gutters not being maintained may result in your property and gutters crumbling. It’ll most likely happen faster than you think. The leaves and other debris accumulate extra water in the gutters, preventing them from escaping via the downpipes. Not only does this trap the water in your gutters, but it means that your gutters will be holding much more weight than they should resulting in bending and sometimes even breaking down the line.
These seep through your gutters and onto your walls and roof over time, creating cracks and fissures that spread with more water. These grow as additional water comes in, jeopardising the structural integrity of your home’s foundations.
Water that’s leaking can also damage wood as it comes into touch with it, causing tiles and other things to decay. Rebuilding after something like this may be extremely costly.
If you’re looking to get your gutters cleaned, get in touch with our team at Guttermen Oz to see how we can help.
We determine the best way to approach cleaning your gutters and get them looking like new, as well as being as cost-effective as possible.
