Why Clean Your Gutters?

In Northeastern North Carolina we see many heavy rainstorms and sometimes the winters feel like months of rain. Keeping a maintenance schedule on your gutters if vital to a healthy home. Some of the issues we notice during inspections can be traced back to clogged gutters. A lot of people ask what the implication of a clogged gutter is, and I am here to help.

Moisture in the home

If you gutters are clogged with debris, the water must go somewhere. Many times we will see the water rise to the top of the gutter and begin rotting the fascia board (the board your gutters are mounted to). A rotted fascia board can lead to moisture intrusion into the home as well as cause the gutters to become loose due to poor connections.

Foundation Problems

1 inch of rain can translate to 1,200 GALLONS needing to be carried away from an average sized home. If your gutters are clogged the water will find its way over the edge and down the cladding and rest around the foundation of the home. The purpose of a gutter and downspout is to divert water from the home and keep it from pooling around the foundation. Water around a foundation can lead to erosion and settling of the homes foundation.

Insects!

Bees, Wasps, and Mosquitos! A clogged gutter with water pooling in them is a perfect area for these type of insects to breed and build nests. I don't think anyone wants to deal with these insects all summer long.

All of these issues mentioned above are very easy to prevent! If neglected gutters can become a very costly item to a homeowner. We recommend finding a company or a professional to clean your gutters in the fall and the spring.