4 Signs of Clogged Gutters in Your Home

Not many homeowners realize the importance of keeping their gutters clean all the time. The truth is, gutter cleaning, maintenance, and investing in gutter covers like Gutter Helmet can save you from expensive and untimely repair costs.

Here are some problems clogged gutters can cause:

1. Wood Damage – A considerable part of most asphalt shingle roofs consist of wood, which is vulnerable to the effects of extended water exposure. Clogged gutters cause rainwater to splash back up under the roofing shingles, into the roof deck, and soak into the wood. Also, gutter hangers are nailed to fascia boards. Continuous exposure to rainwater can rust the nails, weaken its hold on the hangers, and later cause the gutters to sag or even fall to the ground.
2. Landscaping Damage – Spilling rainwater from the roofing and gutter edges can damage your landscaping. The excess water erodes naked soil and drowns smaller plants. Sensitive flora such as orchids gets bruised easily by the slightest impact, like from spilled water. The same rainwater can also cause water stains on the siding.
3. Basement Flooding – Spilled water from the gutters can seep into basements through open egress windows. The problem with basement floods is it’s a lot more difficult to dry out because it’s an isolated, enclosed space. Excess moisture encourages mold and mildew growth, which, in addition to the unpleasant smell, can trigger allergies and cause respiratory problems.
4. Foundation Damage – Gutters’ prime directive is to keep rainwater away from the house foundations. The concrete may absorb too much water in the soil, which could crack and crumble. Likewise, the clay has to be at a certain consistency to support the house; too little water and it cracks, too much and it becomes mud, later leading into the house settling, or even collapsing.

HutchCo Home & Bath serves Columbia, Greenville, and Spartanburg, SC. To know more about our products, including siding, call us today at 864-303-5955 or 972.427.4418 or fill out our contact form for a free, no-obligation quote.