Clean Out Your Gutters, But Not Your Wallet

Gutters are essential for your home, working to control the flow of rainwater away from the roof, walls, and foundation. Clogged gutters means water can’t flow away from the home properly, which can lead to a variety of problems. Many of these problems can be quite costly.

Problems Caused by Clogged Gutters

Ignore your gutters, let them sit collecting leaves, twigs, seed pods, and other debris and soon you could have substantial damage to your home. The most common problems clogged gutters cause include:

Water in the Basement. Clogged gutters cause roof water to overflow and cascade down the side of the house, pooling around the foundation. This water can seep behind siding and through any type of foundation cracks, entering the home — typically in the basement or crawl space.

Foundation Cracks. When the gutters are clogged, that roof water doesn’t divert from the house. It puddles and the regular saturation of roof water around the home’s foundation can cause foundation cracks and the weakening of foundation footings. This costly type of damage typically happens during the colder months of the year, when the water freezes and pushes into the foundation. The pushing and force creates cracks, which lead to water seepage.

Roof Leaks. At any time of the year, a clogged gutter can cause water to back up onto the roof and cause leaks in the attic. During the coldest months, ice dams can form on clogged gutters. Snow piles up atop the ice dam and freezes. When the snow from the roof thaws and runs down to the gutter (blocked by gunk and the defrosting dam), water run-off can back up into your home.

Wood Rot. Any type of water damage, like cascading water from gutter overflow, can lead to wood rot. Wood rot in the home’s fascia or around the windows and doors can quickly lead to leaks.

Mold Growth. Water leakage into the home is a common cause of mold growth. Mold poses several health risks, from stuffy noses and scratchy throats to more serious issues like respiratory illness.

Landscaping Damage. Any water that’s not diverted correctly from the home can pool and/or wash away plant and other landscaping elements. Overflow from clogged gutters can be especially harmful to young plants or saplings which may not have an established root system.

Beyond the water damage, clogged gutters often become homes for birds, rodents, and other pests.

Clean Gutters: Leave it to the Pros

You should clean your gutters or have them professionally cleaned at least two to four times a year. The more trees near your home, the more frequent the gutter cleaning needed. Because gutter cleaning has safety issues, it’s a chore best left to the professionals.

Leave the gutter cleaning to United. We’re a family-owned and operated business, located in Cincinnati. We serve the city and its surrounding regions as well as areas in Kentucky, Indiana, and Ohio. Call us today at 513-716-5806 to schedule an appointment.