What to Do When Your Gutters Are Backed Up

Mary June 8, 2019 in Tips - 3 Minutes

It’s true, the gutters on your property may be the last thing on your mind from one day to the next. However, they are also not something that you should neglect. Problematic gutters can cause serious issues and damage to your property that are not only difficult to resolve but costly too. With that in mind, therefore, it’s important to have your gutters cleaned and maintained regularly to make sure they are doing their job or moving rainwater and melted ice away from the sides and foundations of your property.

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What happens if your gutters get blocked? Is it really that serious?

Well, if debris, dirt, and leaves can accumulate and block up your gutters, there are numerous problems you will be faced with that you could have easily avoided. Problems like:

Cracked gutters
Mold growth,
Rusting
Soil erosion and foundation damage
Subsidence
Pest infestations

What Can Clog Gutters?

Gutters rarely get backed up overnight. It normally happens over a considerable period. As debris like twigs, pines, leaves, and even paper gets blown onto the roof and in the gutters, most are carried off by the rain. However, some of it remains. As this happens regularly, the guttering gets blocked up. After it’s blocked, all that rotting organic matter becomes the perfect place for mold and even pests such as insects and rodents to breed and make it their home.

Clogged Gutters can Cause Leaking Roofs

The gutters on your property are there to provide protection for the roof, fascia, siding, and even the foundation from water damage, by redirecting rainwater away from the building. When your gutters are backed up and blocked, the water has nowhere else to go and starts to accumulate around the roofline, overflowing in the process. During winter, any water trapped in your gutters will freeze over. As the water remains on your roof for longer than it should, the materials on your roof can start to erode, which can then lead to water seeping into your roof and into your home.

How to Stop Gutters Getting Backed Up in the First Place

The best way to solve the problems associated with clogged gutters is to prevent them from happening in the first place. By far, the best way to do this is by scheduling maintenance and cleaning of your gutters. Ideally, you should have this work carried out at least once every year. However, if there are a lot of trees and sources of foliage and debris in the area around your home, you will need to schedule gutter cleaning at least two times a year.

Hopefully, you can see just how serious a problem clogged up guttering can be for your home. The last thing you want is to only notice that you need your gutters cleaned and cleared when there’s bad weather. It’s much better to have them cleaned during those drier and warmer parts of the year, so they are ready to handle the wet and cold weather.