It’s March, that means Winter will soon be coming to an end. After the snow we’ve had in Saskatchewan this year, we can all breathe out with a collective sigh of relief! With winter coming to an end though, its time to shift our focus to our eavestroughs/gutters.
Did you know that eaves cleaning is essential to home maintenance? Without thorough and regular cleaning, water cannot flow properly and could cause damage to the eaves or cause water to overflow and even flood your basement.
Unfortunately, the flow of water through an eavestrough and downspout is not constant; ultimately, the system only really works when it’s prompted by rain or thaw. In the interim, the gutters essentially lie dormant, and it’s during these quiet periods that the foundation for future problems can be established.
This is especially true from the spring through the fall months, when weather conditions and small animals deposit foreign matter/debris in eavestroughs and/or over the openings to downspouts.
All such material will then clog/block the gutter system and prevent it from functioning properly when it’s called upon to perform. Since the water can’t flow as intended, it pools within the eavestrough and either stagnates or, based on its accumulated volume, ultimately pours over the lip/edge. This overflow can be extremely damaging to the home itself as well as its surroundings, and can result in extensive and expensive eavestrough repairs.
What kind of damage can happen if regular eaves cleaning isn’t done? Here are six reasons why regular eaves cleaning is crucial to proper home maintenance:
Roof Damage
As we mentioned above, when leaves and other debris clog up your gutters to the point that water is flooding over, you can end up having issues with rot/mold on your roofing. This is one of the main reasons that it’s important to keep your gutters clean.
Keep Out Pests
Clogged up gutters can be appealing to a number of pests as a nesting site. From birds to mosquitoes, a bed of damp leaves can be alluring.
Damage to Fascia
The fascia is that board that runs right behind your gutter. Overflowing water can damage this important component of your gutter system.
Overwatering Garden Beds
If your gutters become clogged to the point that water is spilling over the side and into your garden beds, you can damage your plants’ health by essentially drowning them. Overwatering can be as harmful as not watering enough.
Cracks in Foundation
If water overflows and pools along your home’s foundation, it can end up freezing, which can cause it to expand and generate cracks in your foundation.
Damage to Brackets
Clogged gutters are holding too much weight, which can result in damage to the brackets.
As you can see, a lot of damage can come from not having a regular maintenance program in place for eaves and gutter cleaning.
As we inch closer to spring and summer (woo!), if you find yourself in need of eaves cleaning / gutter services, please be sure to contact us today for a free quote.