Gutter Cleaning Should not be Overlooked
When you own a home, the number of tasks you need to do in terms of maintenance can often seem endless. One would think that an investment so substantial would come with its own maintenance crew, but this isn’t really the case. Of all of the maintenance you have to do to keep your home operating, gutter cleaning may be one of the most undesirable tasks. As such, it’s no surprise that it can also be one of the most important. Professionals recommend getting up there and removing debris at least two times a year. If you don’t feel up to the task, consider hiring a crew to come out and do the job for you. The following are some of the reasons why you can’t overlook this task.
Water Leaks
A clogged up system can lead to water leaks in a hurry. This is one of the main problems your system is designed to prevent. But when you let leaves, mud and other types of debris gather in the trough, you are preventing it from doing it’s job. A good regimen of regular gutter cleaning can ensure that you don’t have water just standing in the troughs for long and you won’t need to worry about it rotting out the boards on your roof.
Mold Growth
When water begins to collect in your attic or upper floors, you can quickly be the victim of mold growth. While much has been overblown in the media about the potential harm of mold (particularly black mold), it’s not a thing you want to bring into your home. But this is precisely what you do when you neglect to keep up with your gutter cleaning program. Water leaks from the troughs, gets into the attic, and fungus and mold spores thrive. As a homeowner, darkness and moisture are your enemies and it is mold’s favorite place.
Structural Damage
Gutter cleaning can prevent your troughs from becoming too heavy. Have you ever viewed a home with a system that is all bent up and falling away from the house? Chances are you’re either looking at storm damage or the effects of allowing clogs to get out of control. Eventually, the system gets too heavy for the house to support it. Either it gets damaged or the house does. If you’re lucky, it’s the former, but plenty of homeowners have seen structural damage done due to over-full troughs.
Mosquitoes
If you want a yard filled with mosquitoes, all you need to do is let standing water build up on your property. This is where the bugs breed, and a system that has gone without gutter cleaning for a long time gives them an ideal spot to do so.