One of the biggest hazards facing homes might surprise you. Natural hazards like hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes, and natural forest fires are all on the minds of homeowners across America. But gutters that are full of debris can be fire and flood hazards in waiting. Leaves that fell from the previous autumn may have frozen, melted, and started rotting through the spring. By the time the heat of the summer bears down on your house, it’s a fire waiting to be ignited… but there’s more. Here’s why you should invest in professional gutter cleaning in Buffalo Grove and Winnetka, IL.
Related: The Unfortunate Consequences Of Neglecting Gutter Cleaning In Lake Forest And Highland Park IL Areas
The Consequences of Clogged Gutters
Gutters are worth the cost, as long as they continue to protect the house. But when gutters are clogged, a lot can go wrong.
Rain used to do serious damage to homes before the invention of gutters and other drainage systems on roofs. Accumulated water at the base of a home can seep inside the home or pool near the foundation, which can cause cracks due to the freeze-thaw cycle. Excess water can also damage any landscaping features. Gutters solve these problems by diverting the water flow away from these areas.
Water can make its way under the roof and onto the siding, where it can cause stains; worse, water could seep into the siding where it can cause mold to grow. Dry piles of leaves in the gutters invite squirrels, spiders, wasps, and other animals and insects, and form a fire hazard if they become completely dry. The weight of debris can cause the brackets that hold the gutters up to bow and fail. Any standing water is subject to the freeze-thaw cycle, which could cause gutters to swell and even break from the pressure. And, gutters that separate from the house and fall can damage siding or in the worst case, break a window.
Don’t be fooled into thinking you don’t need gutter cleaning just because there are no tall trees near the house. A lot of wind-blown debris can find its way into the gutters. For the integrity of your gutters and the protection of your home, gutters should be checked and thoroughly cleaned once a year at the very least.
Call the Professionals
Professional landscaping companies are well equipped to maintain the cleanliness and safety of your gutters. The process of cleaning and maintaining gutters is a dangerous business since the gutters are often 10-20 feet off the ground, or even more. The pros will also know when repairs need to be performed to make sure that your gutters are structurally sound and clear all year round.
Rotten leaves and other debris might clog drainpipes and sometimes it can take quite a lot of work to clear them. Professional gutter cleaners come prepared with the equipment needed to unclog drains and get rid of debris that is stuck to the gutters themselves. It’s a job that can take several hours or even most of the day if there are masses of wet, heavy debris in each gutter. Homeowners are often shocked at the amount of debris that can accumulate in a single gutter.
Set Up A Schedule
Each season presents different challenges to gutter systems. As water freezes and thaws during the winter, any sort of blockage in the gutter drain could expand as it becomes ice and break the pipes, causing more damage below. That’s why it’s important to always ensure regularly scheduled debris removal during the autumn. Leaves sometimes fall at an alarming rate and catching them before they become frozen mulch is a must.
