As a Houston property owner, how often do you think about cleaning your gutters? This is an often overlooked part of your home maintenance system, so chances are you probably don't think about them very much. However, this is very unfortunate, because not allowing for a regular gutter cleaning service on your home can lead to a whole host of residential problems later on down the line. While there are a number of advantages to cleaning your rain gutters, one of the main ones would be that it can save you money on costly home repairs in the long run. Many factors can come into play when you consider why you should clean your gutters, such as the following:
You should be aware of the precipitation rate in Houston.
On average, Houston is the recipient of 49.77 inches of precipitation per year. This can come in the form of rain, sleet, freezing rain, and some rare snow flurries and hail. Of course, it is also important to note that there are times when severe weather does strike Houston. Indeed, they have had seven major hurricane events in the past 100 years, including Hurricane Harvey in 2017. Although the main concern with hurricanes would be flooding, they can also do significant damage to poorly maintained roofs. Of course, this all begs the question: why is this a concern when it comes to your need for gutter cleaning in Houston? Here is why:
First of all, you need to understand what the purpose of gutters and downspouts are in the first place.
The main reason why your home should have a fully functional gutter is that it can help you remove water from your house. When a gutter is functioning correctly, it will remove water from the top of your roof and place in an area upon the ground where it cannot collect on your roof. This is all well and good. However, problems can easily arise when dirt, leaves, branches and other debris have accumulated in the rain gutters. When this happens, the gutter can become obstructed, and it will not be able to do its job of filtering out water correctly. What is so bad about water not being filtered out, you may ask? Actually, plenty. Many unfortunate circumstances can occur if you neglect cleaning your gutters. Consider some of the following consequences:
Walls, windows, doors, and patios can become damaged.
Overflowing water will often fall into windows or doors. Over time, water contact can cause these surfaces to rot, warp or become compromised. Simply put, these areas are just not designed to handle such a large output of water. Thus, they depend on the rain gutter for the most appropriate protection from water damage. However, when a rain gutter is dirty, the water still has to go somewhere. Instead of collecting in your rain gutter and rolling down to the ground like it's supposed to, it will accumulate in these areas instead.
Your basement might leak, or your foundation might sustain damage over time.
Have you ever had a leaky basement? If so, then chances are you realize it is not a fun experience. A leaky basement can lead to fractures within the beams that your house sits upon, causing it to sink. Fixing this problem is extremely pricy. Moreover, this doesn't even count the potential for foundation damage. If your gutter is not directing your water away from your house, it can collect in your foundation. This also can cause your home to sink, and in extreme cases, it might cause you to lose the home entirely.
You could attract the wrong type of company to your home.
If your gutters are not cleaned at least twice a year, it could lead to rotting wood and damp wall surfaces. These two elements can attract - you guessed it - a litany of pests. Such things as wood beetles, termites, cockroaches, rats, mice, bats, spiders and a number of other unwanted creatures can all be attracted to the dampness that ensues because of an overlooked gutter system. These pests can cause all sorts of repair problems if they are present in your home. However, having regular gutter cleaning on your Houston roof can prevent all of this from happening.
Your home's interior could be seriously harmed.
Again, as we have said before, that water has to go somewhere. If it doesn't collect on your foundation or in your basement, it could end up being embedded in the upper part of your walls in the ceiling. This means that mold can proliferate on any of the damp spots that the obstructed gutters fail to pick up. Other well-known places for mold to thrive would be in the insulation, baseboards, roofing areas and the structure itself.
Your landscape and yard could be damaged.
Water can spill over the side of your roof and then it could severely impact your yard. This means that any gardens, flower beds, shrubs, and small trees. When an excessive amount of water hits the soil in these areas, it can cause some severe runoff. When the dirt is disrupted, it means that these plants and trees will not be as likely to take root. Are you wondering why your garden and your trees are not flourishing as well as they used to? The culprit might be an obstructed gutter system on your house!
Your roof could suffer.
Of course, your roof could also severely suffer. This is because the consistent water can cause certain areas on your roof to rust and it can cause the wood on your roof to get seriously weak. This can lead to leaks, damaged ceilings and even collapsed overhangs.
Of course, you might think that hiring a gutter cleaning service would be expensive, but hiring an individual to remodel your home after severe water damage would cost far more. Having your gutters cleaned is an investment in the continued value of your home. Contact Lawn Love for professional gutter cleaning services today.
