When gutters become clogged, water can't be properly diverted from your home. Instead, water will spill down the side of the gutters, causing a number of different problems such as foundation damage, structural problems, mold and mildew, and flooding in basements. Clogged gutters will cause water to build up and stay on the roof. This can lead to water seeping into your home and damaging the shingles, roof, and more.
It can also cause the gutter system to deform and become heavy before separating it from the house structure and taking part of the roof with it. When it's cold, ice dams (also known as frozen water obstructions) can form in any gutter, especially if that gutter hasn't been recently cleaned of obstructions. Any residue greatly facilitates the formation of ice from water at the molecular level. Rotting wood, which can be caused by clogged gutters, is irresistible to insects such as termites and carpenter ants, which live in and feed on humid wooden environments.
If left untreated, a termite infestation can cause serious structural damage to the home, depending on the amount of wood eaten. Clogged gutters can cause excess water to overflow and build up around the foundation of the house. If left unchecked, this excess water can cause cracks in the base. When the foundation of your home is damaged, this can cause structural damage to your home.
You may not have a basement, but every house has a base. Clogged gutters can cause water to enter the sand, dirt, or clay your house sits on. When it gets too wet, the base can move, causing cracks and deformations. Clogged gutters can cause overflowing water to saturate the ground beneath them.
Water pools can form and penetrate cracks and pores in concrete and damage the base. If this is prolonged and extensive, structural damage can occur, causing the house to move under its weight. Fallen gutters alone aren't particularly harmful to your overall property, but as they begin to separate from the roof, the gutter could come off and take with it part of the outside of your home. Leaving aside the impact of obstructed roof gutters, other damage to your home could include walls as well as foundation damage.
Making sure your gutters are clean and clear, the right size, and connected to your home are essential steps to prevent the damage that clogged gutters can cause to your home. Gutter obstruction problems cause serious damage and hazards to you and your home, as well as a hazard that you can avoid (along with the hassle) if you install gutter protectors. Stains on the lining or on the downspouts and gutters are a telltale sign that the gutters have been overflowing due to an obstruction. These are just some of the problems with clogged gutters that you can avoid if they are properly maintained.
The water accumulated in the gutters is heavy (8 pounds per gallon), which can cause the gutter accessories to separate from the wood band to which they are attached and damage the wood. If the gutters are made of lower quality materials or are allowed to sink long enough, they will become too damaged and may need to be replaced or repaired.
