Dangers of Poorly Maintained Gutters
Some first time homeowners hardly pay any attention to cleaning and maintaining the gutters on their homes. This lack of care may be because those homeowners do not know the risks they face. This article discusses some risks that you may face if your gutters are no longer able to do their work due to inadequate maintenance.
Cracked Foundations
Clogged gutters can result in water flowing down the walls of your home and into the foundation. That water may cause the foundation to heave when the water freezes and expands. This can make the footings of your foundation crack, necessitating very costly repairs.
Rotten Wood
Clogged gutters can overflow and cause the wooden fascia (board covering the rafters of your roof) to rot. This is because constant exposure of wood to moisture causes that wood to rot. You may begin to notice that the fascia has water damage marks on its paint, and before long, the wood will begin crumbling. This will compel you to replace the entire fascia structure.
Slippery Sidewalks
When clogged gutters overflow, they eject water onto the driveway and walkways. That water can freeze when temperatures drop. The frozen water poses serious slip and fall risks that can result in major injuries when a family member loses balance on that slippery surface.
Leaking Roof
One of the biggest dangers posed by poorly maintained gutters is the likelihood of leaks developing in the roof. Rainwater or snow will collect on the roof because the gutters are unable to direct it away. That pool of water reacts with the roof surface, and it may end up being damaged. For instance, metal roofs can rust if an exposed metal segment is in contact with water. That damaged section of the roof will provide an inlet for water into the interior of the roof structure. This can result in additional problems, like an electrical fire, if the water makes exposed wires to short circuit.
Attraction of Bugs
Many insects thrive in a moist environment. For instance, your home may be at a risk of being damaged by insects that feed on moist wood if the gutters keep leaking water onto the wooden fascia. Such insect activity can destroy the foundation of the home, as well as any other house structures (such as doors) made from wood.
As you can see, the risks posed by poor maintenance of gutters are very serious. Protect your new home by developing a preventive maintenance system for your gutters. Alternatively, you can hire gutter cleaners from a company like ACT Gutter Service to clean your gutters regularly so that the risks above are forestalled.