6 Problems Caused by Blocked Gutters & How To Avoid Them
Many homeowners make the mistake of ignoring the problems caused by blocked gutters and only repairing or maintaining the visible parts of their property. However, if your gutters are blocked, it can lead to exponentially more expensive property damage and repairs.
Fortunately, the team at Ned Stevens Gutter Cleaning of Long Island specializes in remedying problems caused by blocked gutters. Don't hesitate to reach out to us today to schedule regular gutter cleaning. In the meantime, continue reading to learn more about the problems caused by blocked gutters and how to avoid them.
What Problems Can Be Caused by Blocked Gutters?
Your gutter system is designed to take excess water from the roof and drain it away from your home through the downspouts. However, if your gutter system is blocked, the backed-up - or overflowing - water can lead to serious complications.
Clogged Gutters Can Cause Roof Damage
Standing water in your gutters can cause shingles to deteriorate, wooden support beams and fascias to rot, saturate insulation and create water damage in the eaves, soffits, ceiling or walls. Left unattended, this can lead to multiple gutter repairs over time.
Icicles and Ice Dams Can Be Caused by Blocked Gutters
Water sitting in gutters can multiply to an even bigger problem once the temperature starts to drop. Ice dams in the gutters prevent water from flowing off the roof, causing a buildup behind the compact ice. Not only is this bad for your roof, but it can make your now-slippery patio unsafe to walk on and create icicles along the walls and windows.
Blocked Gutters Can Cause Foundation Deterioration
If your gutters are blocked, the water can spill over the sides and pour down the walls. Then, you'll have pooling water around your foundation that leads to erosion, which in turn will weaken the foundation walls.
At the same time, saturated soil can exert a lot of pressure on your foundation. Over time, this can cause cracks, shifting, and settling. All the excess water can even lead to flooded basements, damaging anything you have stored and creating a space for the next problem on the list to grow.
Mold & Algae Can Be the Result of Blocked Gutters
Sitting water is the perfect habitat for mold, mildew, algae, and moss to grow. This will not only cause damage to the roof, but it can also lead to serious health concerns. For this particular concern, we highly recommend power washing your property to thoroughly get rid of these persistent, potentially harmful agents.
Blocked Gutters Can Welcome Pests to Your Home
Dried-up leaves that are crammed together create the perfect space for rodents and insects to call home. If this isn’t bad enough, these critters attract other animals like raccoons and possums to the property.
Wood Fascia Damage Is a Problem Caused by Blocked Gutters
Backed-up water in gutters weighs roughly 7 - 8 pounds per gallon, which can cause the gutter attachments to sag and pull away from the wood fascia; damaging the wood. As weakened fascia boards loosen, it makes it easier for water to enter the interior of the home. Water in the home causes ceiling and wall damage and eventually, mold — an expensive repair to fix.
How Can I Avoid Problems Caused By Blocked Gutters?
If you're looking to avoid the aforementioned problems caused by blocked gutters, it's imperative to have regularly-scheduled gutter maintenance and cleaning from Ned Stevens Gutter Cleaning of Long Island. As a fully licensed and insured company, we specialize in all things gutters, including gutter cleaning.
Our experts will arrive at your home to carefully remove debris from the roof, gutters, valleys, and eaves of your home. In doing so, we can help you avoid the problems caused by blocked gutters.
Get a Gutter Maintenance Plan
However, if you are like most homeowners, you may struggle to remember when to schedule gutter maintenance. Fortunately, the team at Ned Stevens Gutter Cleaning of Long Island offers an extensive array of gutter cleaning service plans.
Depending on the layout of your home, the climate, and the number of trees on your property, you will need to clean your gutters anywhere from 2-6 times per year to keep them in good working order. Instead of calling a gutter cleaning service when things are already looking bad, prevention is the best course of action; and a gutter maintenance plan can help prevent the blockage from ever happening.
Consider Installing Gutter Guards or Gutter Protection
To add an extra layer of gutter protection, we recommend installing gutter guards. They're great at keeping large debris out of your gutters, increasing their ability to effectively drain water off the roof.
At Ned Stevens Gutter Cleaning of Long Island, we regularly recommend MicroGuard for any homeowner looking to make a safe investment for their roof. It has uniquely angled micro-perforations that help steer large debris away from your gutters all while staying virtually invisible from the sidewalk. Available in three different styles, MicroGuard will enhance the strength and longevity of any gutter system they are placed in.
Contact Ned Stevens Gutter Cleaning of Long Island
When it comes to protecting your gutters and home, the team at Ned Stevens Gutter Cleaning of Long Island can help. We are a team of gutter experts who specialize in all things gutters. We offer an array of solutions designed to simplify and streamline gutter and home maintenance.
