Cleaning your home’s gutters is quite possibly on the list of maintenance tasks you hate the most. This is usually because the process requires you to get on the roof, work in the sun, and clean everything from leaves to dead rats out of your gutters.
Depending on the frequency at which you clean your gutters, this task can be time-consuming and one that’d much rather leave until there’s an emergency to deal with. Fortunately, you can also opt for the gutter repairs Melbourne roofers offer as part of their roof restoration services.
Clean Gutters Make All the Difference
Neglecting your seasonal gutter maintenance can result in a host of issues that could be costly to repair. We’ve compiled a list of the top reasons why you should ensure that gutter maintenance is a priority when you do your seasonal maintenance this year.
1. Minimizes the Risk of Water Damage to the Roof
The number one reason to keep your gutters free of any type of debris is to reduce the risk of water damage. This happens when debris such as leaves, twigs, and dirt accumulate in the gutter, blocking the free flow of water. If left unchecked, clogged gutters can overflow, causing water to pool around your foundation or seep under shingles.
When water pools up, it can infiltrate the roof, causing significant water damage to your ceilings and walls. The most alarming problem is that leaks often go undetected until serious structural damage occurs, resulting in costly repairs and even potential mold growth. Regular maintenance is essential to avoid these issues.
2. Avoids Foundation Issues
It’s important to keep in mind that damage from pooled roof water can also leak down to the exterior walls and eventually reach the foundation. During heavy rainstorms, this can involve a significant amount of water, overwhelming drainage systems.
Over time, this constant exposure can lead to cracks in the foundation, which are both costly and difficult to repair. If neglected, these cracks can compromise the structural integrity of your home.
The issue becomes worse in winter when pooled water freezes, expanding within the cracks and creating larger gaps. This allows even more water to penetrate deeper into the foundation, increasing the risk of mold growth, basement flooding, and long-term damage. Preventive gutter maintenance is essential to avoid these costly problems.
3. Keeps Out Unwanted Pests
Many people are unaware that blocked gutters are the ideal breeding ground for a variety of garden and home pests. Insects, birds, and even cockroaches can easily build nests in the leaves and twigs that build up in the gutters.
When these insects move into your gutters, it’s only a matter of time before they move into the roof space. Once there, they may start nibbling through your insulation and in the case of rats, your wiring as well. Other insects such as cockroaches see this as a way into the rest of your home.
It’s a good idea to invest in gutter guards when next you do seasonal maintenance on your roof. Typically, these guards fit over your gutter system to keep debris out. Since the guards are made of a durable mesh, debris lies on top of the guard rather than clogging up the gutters and the rest of the drainage system. Since gutter guards can be customised, you’ll easily be able to find the best option for your gutter type.
4. Reduces the Risk of Mould and Mildew
When water is left pooling in spaces around your home it can eventually lead to bacteria spores developing. These will eventually develop into mould. Even mould that grows outside your home on the exterior walls can be harmful to your health.
Mould spores can easily blow around and into your home. Once you have mould inside your space, it can quickly spread. It’s also incredibly difficult to get rid of it. Typically mould can cause flu-like symptoms and lead to respiratory ailments.
5. Minimizes Damage to the Whole Gutter System
It’s not just your roof or the interior home that’s at risk when gutters get clogged. When gutters become heavy with wet debris and water that has nowhere to go, they can start pulling loose from the walls.
When this happens, the whole drainage system is at risk of coming loose, breaking, and also doing damage to the rest of the house. Depending on the age and gutter material, the weight of the water can tear the gutter and cause rust and corrosion.
If gutters start corroding, it’s no longer a viable option to have them repaired. Ultimately, you may have to replace your whole gutter system which can be costly. This is especially the case if the gutters cause additional damage to other components on the roof.
Final Thoughts
As you can see, there are some very serious reasons to keep your gutters as clean as possible. In most cases, you will only need to do it once a year, but this is dependent on the number of trees growing around your roof.
Fortunately, you don’t have to struggle to do it alone. Speak to your local roofing contractors to set up a regular maintenance program and you’ll have peace of mind that your gutters are cleaned even when you don’t feel like doing it yourself. Investing in gutter guards will also make the cleaning process so much easier!
