Most homeowners don’t spend much time thinking about their gutters. But ignoring blocked gutters can cause serious problems you likely won’t notice until after the damage is done. That’s especially true here in Milwaukee, where rains often cause flooding.
Gutters are such a simple part of home maintenance that they often get overlooked. But rain and wind can cause leaves and branches to clog the gutters so that water cannot properly drain out. This then causes water to build up and over flow.
Let’s take a look at a few of the most common problems that result when this happens.
5 Ways Blocked Gutters Can Cause Damage to Your Home
Blocked gutters are more than a nuisance. In fact, they can cause serious damage to your home. Discover what damage they can cause and how to avoid it.
1. Damage to Your Landscaping and Foundations
Both your landscaping and foundation can suffer when excess water leaks from a blocked gutter. You might not think it, but too much water is bad for trees and bushes. It’s like watering them with a fire hose rather than a garden hose.
A clean gutter allows water to flow out the downspout to be properly channeled away from the house. When this doesn’t happen as designed, the excess water can cause your foundation to shift, sink, or crack.
2. Roof Damage
When water doesn’t flow properly through the gutter at the edge of the roof, the roof’s surface and the underlining materials can become damaged. And once enough damage has been done, your roof will likely need to be replaced.
3. Damage to Doors, Windows, and Walls
Water spilling from blocked gutters eventually causes damage to many parts of your home that aren’t designed to have this much contact with water.
Your patio can flood, causing damage to brickwork and furniture. Walls can begin to sag, warp, and weaken. And the doors and windows can begin to leak, allowing water to seep into the interior of your home.
4. Mold and Mildew Damage
A lot of the damage that is caused by the overflow of water from clogged guttering often goes unnoticed because it’s hidden behind walls or around door and window seals.
Moisture trapped in these areas leads to the growth of mold and mildew. This is not only unsightly and smelly, it’s also a health hazard. Worse yet, getting rid of mold can be an expensive undertaking, and not dealing with it quickly can lead to even more extensive material damage and health issues down the road.
5. Pest Infestations
Standing, stagnant water attracts insects like mosquitoes. This is because they love to lay eggs in damp and decaying environments.
The swampy conditions produced by excess water from clogged gutters also lure unwanted critters, such as termites, carpenter ants, and other pests that destroy wood.
Keep in mind that these pests breed quickly and cause significant property damage when not dealt with swiftly.
The Importance of Cleaning Your Gutters in Milwaukee
As we’ve seen, the damage caused by blocked gutters can be both expensive to repair and have a negative impact on your health. Not sure what you can do to keep them clear and free of damage? Click here to see five gutter maintenance tips every Milwaukee homeowner should know.
But learning how to unclog gutters isn’t your only option. Hire a professional to do it for you and you’ll save yourself time and energy. It might seem expensive, but it is actually money well spent. Contact us today to schedule an appointment!
