Clogged gutters are more than just a hassle to clean, as they can cause damage to the house and cause roof leaks during heavy rains. Unobstructed gutters are designed to channel water through the gutter, to downspouts and away from your home. But when obstructions occur, the water remains stagnant in the gutter channel and settles against the roof. Clogged gutters are a common cause of roof leaks, especially if you have trees close to your house.
Branches, twigs, leaves and other debris can fall into gutters all year round and fill them. Storms and wind conditions can also throw debris into gutters, creating an obstruction. Proactive home maintenance is key to avoiding costly subsequent repairs. So, when you're making that list of maintenance tasks, don't forget to search.
Clogged gutters can cause roof leaks and damage mold in your home. Learn more here about why cleaning gutters is essential to preventing roof leaks and other damage to your home. Yes, you heard it here first. The purpose of your gutter system is to move water away from the roof and away from the side of the house.
A clogged gutter can't do any of these things effectively, if at all. As the gutter overflows, water will build up on the roof again, causing excessive damage to the shingles. You'll also see an increased risk of the roof sagging, cracking and leaking. Gutter leaks usually start at rusty spots or joints that have opened due to expansion and contraction.
Easily repair a leak in a basically solid gutter by covering the damaged area with adhesive tape to repair roofs and gutters (available at home centers and hardware stores). Defective gutters can affect the roof at the most basic levels. Structural roof damage is common when gutters overflow or obstruct. This build-up is especially common after heavy rain, snow buildup, or ice storms.
Because the roof is not designed to support this additional weight, tension puts pressure on the panels and the base band. If these parts of the roof start to bend or break, it could undergo major repairs. The gutter joints must be properly sealed so that water moves through the gutters instead of spilling out the sides or through the joints. Clogged gutters are gutters that don't work efficiently (or don't even work) efficiently, because obstructions cause gutters to overflow and you don't even want to go there.
You're probably not surprised to hear this, and we bet you may not even remember the last time you checked that your gutters were clean. Understanding how bad gutters can affect your roof makes installing and cleaning gutters an important aspect of homeownership. If clogged gutters are a problem you frequently encounter, it might be time for a new gutter system. If you are faced with frequent blockages in the gutters or notice that water is spilling out from the sides, the gutters may have an inadequate slope.
Plus, you'll never have to waste another weekend on a ladder struggling to keep your gutters clean. Clogged gutters leave your home with no way to drain water after heavy rain, allowing it to remain stagnant in the gutter channel. This is because cleaning gutters can help prevent anything from bee nests to a bad base. If you live in an area with pine trees, you'll need to clean the gutters more than once a year.
The fasteners that hold the gutters in place may loosen over time, especially if you have an older gutter system. .
