Image from Home Stratosphere

Why Gutter Maintenance is a Must for Every Homeowner

Gutter maintenance is one of the least exciting things to do in your house. But it could be one of the most important house tasks as well.

Cleaning your gutters regularly will not only keep your house in tiptop shape, but it will also keep your family safe from any kind of house damage that rainwater could bring.

Below are only some of the best reasons you should have your gutters maintained regularly.

1. Pests will infest your house in no time

Dirty and clogged up gutters are very inviting for many types of insects and other pests. Unmaintained gutters are normally filled with organic materials like mud, soil, leaves, water, and sometimes even plants. Which make them conducive for breeding and growth.

If you let your gutters be filled with these materials, it will not be surprising if you see rats, bugs, and other pests in there. And it’s only a matter of time before they infest the entire house.

If you have unmaintained gutters, expect these pests in your property:

  • Roaches
  • Carpenter ants
  • Mosquitoes
  • Worms
  • Critters

The worst thing about them is that they multiply and build a colony fast until it’s too late for you to prevent it.

Once that happens, you’ve got no other choice but to hire pest extermination experts to get rid of them. Which can be much more expensive and more troublesome than regular gutter maintenance.

Image from Forbes

2. The structural integrity of your house will be compromised

As you might already know, water is one of the archenemies of any house.

And if we’re talking about water damage, one of the first things you should look at are your gutters. See if there is any overflowing happening there. If there is, then it must be your gutters.

Gutter overflows may sound like a simple thing, but over time, they can cause moulding and cracks in your roof shingles and fascia boards. And it’s only the start.

Overflowing also means that the rainwater is not properly redirected to the exact place where it should be. Rainwater could land directly on to the soil below the gutters, then seeps into the basement, and eventually, your home’s foundation.

While structural damage won’t happen overnight, time is still of the essence here. Have your gutters repaired or cleaned immediately before any kind of damage is done by the rainwater.

3. Say goodbye to your landscaping

Overflowing can also damage the landscaping. The rainwater that lands directly onto the soil beneath the gutter line will soften up and will destroy any kind of plant life growing on it.

If you are big on gardening, this is the last thing that you’d want to happen. That’s why you must maintain your gutters regularly.

As much as possible, install gutter guards to prevent the leaves, twigs, and other materials from clogging your gutters and causing rainwater overflows.

Image from Master Gutters

4. Gutter replacement cuts deep in the pocket

If you don’t maintain your gutters at all, chances are they’re going to deteriorate a lot sooner than you expected.

And once that happens, you have no other choice but to replace them altogether. Which is not budget-friendly, by the way.

There are a lot of factors that can drive up the cost of your gutter replacement. From materials to length, accessibility of your roof, and other essential gutter accessories.

This cost could’ve been easily prevented if you clean your gutters regularly. If you don’t want to shell out any more money for home renovations, you probably should start thinking of taking care of your gutters.

Or else, you will find yourself, scouring Google and searching for “gutter replacement” or “gutter installation near me”, and spending money that is way out of your current budget.

 

Gail P
I am a beachy type of person, living in Newport Beach, and oftentimes I’ll go for a swim with my daughter. When I’m bored, I’ll help make package boxes for my little girl’s sticker company on Etsy.