Confused About How Gutters Work? Let’s Talk About It!
Are you confused about how gutters work? In fact, when was the last time you looked at your gutters? If you haven’t done it so far this year, we strongly recommend you to take a walk around your home to do a visual inspection of your gutters from the ground.
Most people won’t even glance at their gutters unless there is a problem that needs to be addressed. This notion is completely understandable since anything out of sight usually ends up being out of mind as well. However, when it comes to gutters, an ounce of maintenance is worth several pounds of cure.
Your gutters are designed to securely direct water away from your home. And when it comes to water, it's one of nature’s biggest assets and quite often, every homeowner’s worst nightmare.
Let's take a closer look at how your gutter system works to protect your home from various types of property damage from water. If you have any questions or concerns about your gutter system, don't hesitate to reach out to the team at Ned Stevens Gutter Cleaning of Long Island.
Gutters Protect Your Home
When working properly, gutter systems salvage homes from being destroyed or damaged over time by the water. When gutters are damaged, removed, or obstructed, all this rainwater still needs to find somewhere to go. Without proper channeling from gutters, the excess of water can creep into the house from endless points of entry and wreak havoc over time.
How Do Gutters work?
For any of you who don’t already know, gutters protect your home from rain, sleet, and snow. Gutters are made of metal (most often aluminum) and are usually installed around the edges of the roof. Think of it as a system of small canals that are open at the top to catch rainwater running off the roof, channeling all the excess water into the downspouts to be drained down to the ground and away from the home.
If you look around your home and see a vertical section where the gutter is closed and reaches to the ground, that is the downspout. Its purpose is to direct the water away from the roof and into the ground, safely away from the home. The important thing to remember is that the drainage system guides the water away from not only the roof but the home’s foundation as well.
Are Gutters Really Necessary?
Your gutters are absolutely necessary! Today's houses are engineered to conserve energy, which is great, but that also means they trap moisture inside. For example, if the soil around the home is drenched from drainage water, it will often seep through the foundation and find its way into the basement or concrete floor.
Why Is This Bad?
Eventually, some of that accumulated moisture will inevitably be absorbed by the air inside the home. This can lead to fungal wood rot, meaning mold may be not too far behind. This is especially dangerous in more humid regions, where the heat combined with the water can create a deadly cocktail of fungus, mold and bacteria.
If you live in a colder climate, don’t think you’re off the hook. Water can condense against colder surfaces and cause similar fungal problems over time. Even something as simple as condensation in windows can damage sills and interior walls if left unchecked. If you thought a clogged gutter was no big deal, think again. In the end, a clogged gutter can negate the very purpose of your gutter and send water into basements, under eaves, into roofs, and everywhere else.
Gutter Maintenance Is Critical to How Your Gutters Work
No matter where you live, roof experts suggest you clean your gutters at least twice a year to be on the safe side (once in the spring and once during fall). If you are only looking to do it once a year, the best time to do it would be close to the end of fall once all the leaves have fallen. If there are a lot of trees surrounding your home, you will need to clean the gutters more often than other homeowners.
Gutter Cleaning Service Plans Save Time and Money
The best way to remember to clean your gutters is to have our most popular 4-service gutter maintenance contract. At Ned Stevens, we offer several different Service Plans designed to get and keep your gutters on the right cleaning schedule. Each contract features a range of value-laden benefits designed to save you money on the cost of cleaning your gutters. You can learn more about our Service Plans.
Contact Ned Stevens Gutter Cleaning of Long Island
If your gutters are leaking, sagging, damaged or your downspouts are missing or broken, the gutter system will not be able to properly do its job. However, the experts at Ned Stevens Gutter Cleaning of Long Island offer several gutter repair, gutter cleaning, and gutter installation options to ensure your system performs as intended. And, if you’re into maintaining the looks of your home, we also offer soft-washing, pressure washing, roof washing, and window cleaning services. Lastly, before winter arrives, we can help you protect your property with our awesome shrink wrapping service.
Contact Ned Stevens Gutter Cleaning of Long Island today.
