Chicago’s clogged gutters can lead to a variety of problems. The most common issue is when debris falls and clogs your rain gutters, causing water to back up and overflow on the ground. This can cause damage to your foundation and wood floors. Worse, it gives pests like rats and mice a place to live and breed.
If you want to avoid this problem, you must clean out your gutters right before winter comes. While it may seem like a lot of work, the process isn’t as hard as it looks, but sometimes it can be dangerous depending on your house and your gutter system. You need to find the right tools, a long ladder, and do a little maintenance every week or find a gutter cleaning service near me and let professionals do the hard work. This article will explore why removing debris from your gutters is so important.
Sagging Gutters
The weight of standing water in a clogged gutter can cause the stabilizer bars, aka gutter hangers at the bottom of the gutters, to loosen and sag. This forces all the water inside the gutter, creating a water flow that’s inconsistent from side to side. Hence the water starts overflowing, usually in the middle, causing damage to landscaping, house foundation, and nearby structures.
The long-term effects of sagging gutters include leaks and broken drains. Without being able to support the weight of water, the gutters eventually become too weak to support their weight. If you see your gutters are sagging in one area, this could be a sign that they need expert repairs and professional cleaning. Prevent sagging gutters by cleaning and inspecting them before winter.
Prevent More Expensive Repairs
Cleaning your gutter periodically can help you identify the problem sooner. This is a great way to prevent more expensive repairs, including roof leaks or replacement. It may also allow you to deal with the problem before winter arrives, which can be beneficial if you’re worried about drainage issues. Fasteners and other gutter parts are also prone to rusting if you run water through them.
Water flowing through a gutter can also cause vegetation to grow near the gutters, leading to ground conditions that make it even harder for gutters to drain. If you don’t clean out your gutters, you may also have to deal with reduced flow, which can cause water damage to your foundation. The debris at the bottom of your gutters can also lead to moss buildup. Consider cleaning out your drains every month to prevent these problems as well.
Clogged Gutter Are Dangerous to Your Health
The water inside gutters can back up and overflow on the ground when the gutters are clogged. This can leave you open to mosquito and tick bites, as well as other types of vermin.
The most common cause of gutter overflow is when debris becomes stuck and causes clogs. Another type of debris that can cause clogs is leaves, especially if wet at the time. If you see a lot of leaves on your roof and gutters, this could be a sign of clogged gutters that need to be cleaned out ASAP. The longer you wait to clean. The more likely water will overflow from the gutters. Moss and mildew can also clog your gutters if you leave them uncleaned for too long. These can be severe health risks because they can grow and become airborne.
Keep Winter Pests Away from Your Home
Many pests, such as mice and rats, are attracted to a moist environment with food and water. When they find a place to live in your home after winter, they can start breeding and raising their own families. If this happens, you have to deal with the consequences.
In many cases, a rodent infestation can lead to bites and vermin damage to your home. You also have to worry about safety, as these animals can chew through wires or poison food. If you don’t clean out your gutters right now, you could have to deal with these pests after the first snowfall. If you clean out the debris in your gutters, you can prevent them from infesting your home or damaging any parts.
Keep Your Gutters Clean
Many people underestimate how hard it is to clean gutters. They don’t realize how easy it is for debris to accumulate and clog the gutters. Over time, this can lead to trouble, including water damage to your foundation and landscape. It can also be hard to reach or clean the gutters without the right equipment. Furthermore, gutter cleaning can be dangerous; you risk a fall from the ladder and serious injuries.
Gutter cleaning services are designed to make this process easier. Chicago gutter cleaning companies can help you avoid the danger and all the hassle of cleaning your gutters and downspouts yourself. My Window Washing is a company cleaning gutters in the entire Chicagoland area. We use ladders to reach high-up gutters and thoroughly clean out the entire gutter system by hand. We also inspect and clear downspouts.
Ice Dams
Ice dams form on the edge of your gutters when snow and water freeze overnight. If you don’t clean out your gutters before winter, this can be difficult to remove without damaging the gutter or home. Ice dams can also cause severe damage to your roof and expose you to the risk of leaks.
Ice dams make it harder for water to drain from your gutters and can lead to leaks. If you live in a cold climate, this can be a severe problem in the winter. Ice dams are also more likely to form if you leave debris in your gutters.
Fortunately, My Window Washing provides an ice dam removal service. We use professional equipment to safely remove ice dams without damaging your property in the Chicago area.
Causes Damage to the Fascia
If you don’t clean out the gutters, they can start to sag and loosen their connection to the fascia. This can lead to holes in the fascia, making leaks easier to form around them. This can also cause mold to grow on the fascia, and it can damage the siding as well. Leaving the gutters clogged for too long could lead to serious structural issues in your home.
Gutter Cleaning Near Me
My Window Washing and Gutter Cleaning is dedicated to helping you and your family. We take pride in our work and will go to great lengths to ensure you feel safe and happy in your home. We also take care of your property and will do everything possible to return your home to its pre-winter state.