What Damage Can Clogged Gutters Cause?

Gutters serve an important function, working to channel rainwater and melting snow/ice away from your home. In a four-season region like Cincinnati, it’s especially essential to include gutter cleaning in both the spring and fall. Gutters easily become clogged with leaves, twigs, and other debris. This debris leads to water backup and the potential to cause serious damage to your property. The professionals at United Window Cleaning have identified the six most common areas of damage caused by clogged gutters.

Water in the Basement

Water in the basement can be a direct result of a clogged gutter and a rainstorm. Rainwater needs to flow through the gutter, into the downspout, and away from the home. Clogs force the rainwater over the edges of the gutter where it then sluices down the side of the house. Even small foundation cracks can mean water finding its way into the basement.

Mold

Mold can begin to grow on a damp surface in as few as 24 to 48 hours, reports FEMA. Mold loves moist, humid conditions and frequently is found in basements that suffer from water damage. If clogged gutters are forcing runoff down the sides of your home and the water is entering the basement, there’s an increased risk for mold. Mold can trigger respiratory problems and other health issues.

A clogged gutter also can cause overflow to seep into the attic, where the moisture and water increases the risk for mold and wood rot.

Window, Door, and Fascia Board Rot

In the same way that the overflow from clogged gutters leads to mold in the basement and attic, you’re also at risk for damage and rot around windows, doors, and fascia board. The water from the clogged gutter sits and seeps into wood fascia board. This ongoing wet will lead to rot, also affecting any window trim and doors repeatedly hit with the excess and frequent moisture.

Foundation Cracks

The overflow water from the clogged gutter pools around the foundation of the home, where it erodes the landscape and leaves your foundation vulnerable to seepage and the development of cracks. Those cracks make it easier for water to find its way into the basement, which then increases the risk for mold. It’s a vicious cycle that can be avoided by keeping your gutters clean and clog free.

Eroding Landscape

The spring rains should bring your garden into bloom, not erode the landscaping. Unfortunately, the overflow from clogged gutters and misdirected (or missing) downspouts erodes the dirt, mulch, and plants that surround a home.

Cracked Concrete: Drives and Walkways

Water is an awesome force, capable of great damage. The water from a clogged gutter can cause the soil around and under concrete to swell. This expansion leads to concrete heaving and the development of fissures and cracks in both walkways and drives.

Plan to have your gutters cleaned at least twice a year by a professional team like United Window Cleaning. Contact us today to schedule an appointment.