Gutter cleaning is easy to ignore as a homeowner, particularly since it’s not the most enjoyable afternoon pastime. People tend to put off cleaning their gutters or forget about it until it’s too late.
Keeping your gutters clean, on the other hand, is critical for a safe and long-lasting property. Failure to do so can result in considerable and costly headaches. While the effort may be inconvenient for a few hours, it is definitely worth it in the long term.
We all have a list of spring cleaning duties to perform, such as disinfecting the entire house, moving furniture and cleaning underneath it, pressure washing the exterior of the home, and refreshing outdoor gardens, among other things. Cleaning the gutters is another duty that should be added to your spring cleaning regimen (and other seasonal to-do lists).
Gutter cleaning is an important part of any home improvement project. Cleaning your gutters not only improves the appearance of your home, but it also protects it from water damage, freezing issues, and pest invasion. You might not know how often you should clean them.
This article can help you figure out how often you should clean your gutter system
Gutter neglect can result in a variety of problems with your roof, home’s exterior, and even your driveway. That is why it is critical to understand when and how often to clear your gutters in order to avoid disaster.
1. What Happens If Your Gutters Aren’t Cleaned?
Everything can appear to be great when it comes to gutters—until it isn’t. When you neglect your gutter, the years quickly mount up, and you realize you have a major problem on your hands. It may be too late, and you’ll have to replace the gutter entirely, depending on the extent of the damage.
But there is still hope! You can avoid reaching to that point by understanding the potential implications of not completing this task.
- Leakage
When you don’t clear your gutters, the downspout might become clogged with leaves, trash, and other material. As a result of the barrier, standing water collects and finally overflows.
- Mold
The leaves that clog your gutter can begin to deteriorate and eventually rot if left unchecked. Mold will develop and thrive in a rainy region, such as the Pacific Northwest, leaving the exterior of your gutter discolored and dirty. Even worse, if this mold gets into your home, it can cause a plethora of health issues, and getting rid of it is both costly and bothersome.
- Roof Defects
You may not understand that failing to maintain your gutters might lead to the need to replace your entire roof, which is neither simple nor inexpensive. Rainwater has nowhere to go but overflow or soak through your shingles and pour into your home when your gutters are clogged. As a result, your shingles become softened and considerably damaged, allowing additional rainwater loss.
Rainwater can also cause the gutter to rip and cause damage to your roof. You’d have to replace not only your roof and gutters, but you might also have to cope with water damage inside your home.
- Insects, bugs, and pests
When leaves degrade, they attract unwelcome visitors such as bugs, vermin, and other animals. The decomposing leaves provide a rich and easily accessible food source for a variety of pests, attracting them to your gutter and bringing them closer to your home.
While any of these scenarios may scare you, remember that you’re still ahead of the game. Now that you know what might happen if you don’t maintain your gutters, you can learn how to recognize damage.
2. How Do You Detect Gutters That Aren’t Clean?
While cleaning your gutters on a regular basis is the greatest first line of defense, there are a few warning signals to look out for to ensure that the situation does not worsen.
3. What is the age of your gutters?
Guttering typically only lasts 15-20 years before needing to be replaced. If you don’t examine it regularly, depending on how old it is, it may be more vulnerable to harm.
- Pooling or Dripping gutters
If you observe pools of water around your grass or driveway, it’s possible that your gutter is having drainage troubles. Finding water inside your home is a crucial indicator that you may have a water drainage or leaking problem.
How Often Should Your Gutters Be Cleaned?
So, how often should your gutters be cleaned? Gutter inspections should be done once a year, according to most pros.
However, where you reside has an impact. Where it rains for the most of the year, gutter cleaning may be required more frequently, especially if your home is near trees that shed frequently.
Alternatively, if you reside in a city where temperatures drop below freezing winter, your main worry should be inspecting your gutters immediately before winter to prevent any water blockages from freezing and causing roof damage.
Another time you should clean your gutters is following a significant weather storm. Leaves, branches, and debris may find their way onto your roof and gutter, clogging it up.
If you can’t do it yourself, hire someone to do it for you.
It’s okay if you don’t feel confident in your ability to clean your gutters on your own. It’s easy to be intimidated by home repair and DIY tasks. You may always contact the experts at the Gutter Seattle for assistance.
Gutter Cleaning services are available through Gutter Seattle. You may rest confident that if there are any issues with your gutter system, we will be there to help.
