Gutter cleaning is extremely essential, especially when it comes to maintaining the health of the house as well as its residents. If not done at the right time, you run the risk of damaging your house as well as your gutters. These systems are essential for ensuring that the water from your roof does not end up seeping into the roof or getting absorbed by the foundation. Here are some risks that you can run into when your gutter is clogged.
Rodent Infestation
When your gutters get clogged, the rainwater will become stagnant on your roof. This creates the perfect habitat for rodents like squirrels and mice along with pests like mosquitoes. If not taken care of in time, you may face rodent infestation, with these animals trying to enter your property as it provides perfect conditions for them to live in.
Rodent infestation can be very costly to get rid of and will require professional help. One of the easiest ways to identify if your gutters are blocked is by noticing the animal and bird activity around your house- has it increased? If you are unsure, just go to the roof and check yourself.
Cracks in wall
If you start noticing cracks in your wall, you are likely facing a bigger problem than just stagnant water on your roof. Cracks in the wall often signify that your foundation is shifting. This happens when the gutter water starts draining too close to the house’s foundation and starts seeping into the soil.
This leads it to start eroding the soil in the foundation, making it shift and change. This causes cracks in the walls and can often also lead to the flooding of the basement. Shifting foundation is a serious issue that requires the help of professionals to be fixed or you run the risk of your house collapsing.
Leaking roof
When the water starts getting stored on top of your roof, unable to go down due to blocked gutters, it will eventually start seeping into the structure. This will lead to the wooden structure of your roof getting wood rot and the ceilings eventually starting to leak as the water continues seeping in. This might require you to get a new roof, in the worst cases.
When is the finest time to clean my gutters?
The best time to clean your gutters is after autumn when most of your gutters will be overflowing with debris and leaves. Get them cleaned before spring so that the heavy rain does not cause any damage due to clogged and blocked gutter systems and downspouts.
How many times you get your gutters cleaned also depends on the area you live in. If you live in an area with lots of trees, your gutters may get clogged more than usual. This means that you might need to clean them or get them cleaned by professionals at least 3 times a year.
How to do it yourself
Gutter cleaning can be done without professional help, only if the house is not more than one story tall. If it is taller, you will need to call in professionals so that you don’t hurt yourself. Click here to contact them. When cleaning your gutters, it is important to understand that you should not, under any circumstances, attempt to clean them off the roof. Rather, you can employ two methods:
Ladder
Using a ladder to clean your gutters is a safe option if done correctly. Make sure that you have a ladder that is stable and safe and does not bend or have any issues. In addition to this, get a ladder stabilizer to ensure that the ladder does not tip over when you are cleaning. Gutter cleaning is a messy job that can often lead to a smelly, awkward mess.
To avoid causing too much of a mess, you will need the right tools. If using a ladder, you can just scoop up the debris and put it in a bucket/plastic bag as you go along. You can also get a water hose but remember that the result might be very messy and require you to clean up your exteriors as well
Ground
The safest way to clean your gutters is by cleaning them from the ground up. This ensures that you are not putting yourself at any kind of risk. Use an air hose with a specially designed gutter cleaning attachment that allows you to blow the debris and leaves out of the gutters. This will work best if your foliage is mostly dry.
If, however, you have wed foliage, you will need to use the water hose with the special attachment to get everything out. It is also important to consider that since you will be cleaning from the ground, it is possible that you might not have the best vision of the gutter system.
