A big part of home maintenance is keeping up with the hidden things - like clogged gutters - that may not be obvious now, but can cause serious damage over time. Gutters are, unfortunately, often out-of-sight, out-of-mind. Your gutters protect your home in many ways and it’s important to stay on top of cleaning and maintaining them. Since it’s dangerous work, we recommend that only professionals should clean your gutters. Here’s why now is the time to schedule a gutter cleaning in Lake Forest and Buffalo Grove, IL.
Related: 4 Signs That You Need A Professional Gutter Cleaning In Lake Forest And Glenview, IL
Proper Drainage
The function of gutters is to safely disperse excess rain and snowmelt away from the home. The gutters do the necessary work of keeping the sides of your home from accruing nasty stains and mold. Drain pipes direct the water away from the foundation, preventing the potential damage and flooding that could happen especially after heavy rain. Gutters also prevent the buildup of potentially dangerous icicles in the winter. We don’t think of gutters often, but they’re a necessary part of preventing damage to your home.
Autumn Debris
As soon as the leaves start falling, gutter cleaning should be on your mind. The leaves that fall on your roof will make their way into the gutter, where the vast majority of them get stuck. Once they’re in the gutter, they create dams that prevent the flow of water. This becomes a major problem if it’s neglected over time.
The leaves are fairly dry as they fall off the tree, but the eventual rains and snowfall will turn the leaves into a rotting, sodden mess. In the winter, this debris sits frozen and impossible to remove. During the freeze-thaw cycles, the water that’s stuck behind the leaves will expand and contract with a force that could crack the gutter or drain pipe or cause the gutter seams to pull apart.
Once the gutters are not doing their job, you can expect water stains on your siding… mold and mildew growth on the siding… water damage to the landscaping along the foundation… wet foundations… pooling surface water… or flooding.
In spring, wet debris will rot, potentially attracting pests and growing mold. Finally, the sun will bake the debris until it’s dry, turning it into a fire hazard. All of this could be avoided with a gutter cleaning twice a year: once in the fall and once in the spring.
How to Check if You Need a Gutter Cleaning
Take a walk around your home and take note of the signs of a clogged gutter.
1. Any debris that’s visible from the ground indicates that the gutters are full and should be cleared out as soon as possible before damage occurs or worse.
2. Look for stains on the side of your house. Any dark rings, discoloration, mold, moss, or drip marks shows that the gutters aren’t properly doing their job because rain runoff and snowmelt are spilling over the sides.
3. Spray the roof with a hose until water starts coming from the drain pipes. If little or no water comes out, there’s a problem: either the gutters, the drain pipe, or both are clogged with debris. Again, standing water can burst the gutters or pipe during the winter and potentially even cause a collapse of your gutter, damaging the side of your home in the process.
4. Call your gutter cleaning professionals for an inspection.
Related: Why You Should Invest In Professional Gutter Cleaning In Buffalo Grove And Winnetka IL
