9 Must-Know Facts About Gutter Cleaning

Gutters are designed to carry rainwater or snow/ice melt from the roof to the ground with connected downspouts diverting the flow away from the home and landscaping. However, gutter cleaning is often one of the most ignored home maintenance chores. Ignoring gutter cleaning can have serious consequences, from costly home repairs to compromising your family’s health and safety.

Protects Landscaping

Landscaping, from ornamental shrubs to flowers and ground cover plants, helps to create an eye-catching exterior while adding value to the home. The last thing you want or need is for the investment you’ve made in beautifying the home to be damaged or destroyed by gutter overflow. Clogged gutters or improperly placed downspouts can flood flowerbeds, erode soil, sweep away mulch, and cause a costly mess.

Helps Lengthen Roof Life

In areas like our home city of Cincinnati, winter often brings snow and ice that can be damaging to homes. Snow accumulates on the roof, melts, and then refreezes—a cycle that may lead to ice dams. Ice dams can block gutter flow.

When water can’t properly move through the gutter, it can seep under the roof shingles, cause damage, and shorten the lifespan of the roof.

Prevents Roof Leaks

When water can’t flow because the gutter is clogged, what happens to the water? Too often the water backs up into the roofline, seeping under the shingles or other roofing materials. When the water freezes it can move the shingles, leaving open space that then becomes susceptible to potential costly roof leaks.

Reduces Risk of Water Damage

Gutters that become clogged with dirt, sticks, and other debris make it impossible for water to flow into the downspout and away from the home. Water is intrusive, finding its way into attics and insulation, and slipping behind siding and window frames. This moisture can cause wood rot, mold, and other damage.

Shields Basement From Flooding

Dirty, clogged gutters can’t do their job. Gutters are designed to catch water and funnel it to the downspouts, which then divert it away from the home, foundation, and landscaping. If the water can’t flow, it will spill over the gutter, cascade down the side of the home, and pool around the foundation.

It also can seep under siding, windows, crawl spaces, and flood basements. Any moisture in the crawl space or basement, in particular, is likely to lead to mold, which can be a trigger for allergies, asthma, and other respiratory problems for anyone living in the home.

Pest Control Aid

Birds and other small animals like to nest in gutters. Having your gutters cleaned professionally at least twice a year will remove the twigs, debris, and nests built by pests that can carry disease.

Promotes Health and Safety

Standing water in gutters due to debris is a breeding ground for insects like mosquitoes. Mosquito bites are not only itchy and annoying, but the bite may also transmit diseases that can seriously compromise a person’s health.

In addition, any standing water or moisture from overflowing gutters can lead to mold growth. Mold spores can trigger allergies and asthma, and be harmful to anyone suffering from respiratory issues.

Home Aesthetic and Value Improvement

Gutters add a certain level of aesthetics to the exterior of the home. If they’re ignored, not only will the gutter start to look bad, but it can detach from the house and the downspouts may fail. Neglected gutters detract from the overall look of the house and can be a factor in lowering its value if you’re attempting to sell your home.

Longer Gutter Life

In general, if you maintain items like gutters or windows, you can help increase their lifespan. Debris adds stress to gutters and the organic material that naturally collects over time can cause corrosion and other issues. To maximize gutter life, it’s essential to have them cleaned regularly.

United Window Cleaning is here for you and all your gutter cleaning needs. Let us handle this home maintenance chore for you, saving you time and effort. Contact us today to schedule an appointment.