Why is Gutter Cleaning so Important?

Gutter cleaning is an essential operation for many reasons. It is important to unclog the gutters to prevent rainwater from accumulating on your roof. You can hire a gutter cleaning company like Clean Gutter Protection for this operation. The cost of gutter cleaning depends on the condition of the gutters and the scope of the work to be done. Since they are high up and practically part of the aesthetics of your house, they are rarely among the main considerations during maintenance. However, the importance of roof and gutter cleaning should not be underestimated since neglecting it could have serious consequences and costly expenses.

To keep a house in good condition, it is important not to neglect the maintenance of the roof and particularly the cleaning of the gutters. Clogged gutters can lead to problems such as cracks, collapse of the structure, and water infiltration. In reality, there are many reasons to clean your gutters regularly. Clean Gutter Protection explains below the importance of maintaining your gutters and how to do it safely.

The impacts of non-functional gutters

One of the consequences that a non-functional gutter can have is to create accumulations of stagnant water in different places on the ground. Normally, an effective gutter will direct water to several downspouts that will discharge at strategically chosen locations. On the other hand, if it is clogged or perforated in places, it will lead to accumulations of stagnant water on your property. Not only will this harm the aesthetics of it, but there is a good chance that these accumulations will cause water infiltration, with much greater consequences.

Indeed, there is a high risk of water seeping into the fascia board, then into the roof. In addition, it is possible that the water goes too close to the foundations of the residence rather than flowing as expected in the downspouts. This could create water infiltration in the foundations of the house. You should not take these problems lightly as it can lead to serious problems with the foundation and the roof.

Clogged gutters could cause heavy waterfalls that could lead to soil erosion. This can expose pipes or even the foundation of the house and can also lead to landslides. When the erosion is too great, it is therefore necessary to have recourse to earthworks.

What precautions does Clean Gutter Protection take in gutter cleaning services?

Spring is often the perfect time to hire some gutter cleaning services. But we often forget the cleaning of the roof. Taking care of your gutters requires simple actions, but they are nonetheless dangerous, because they are exercised at height and on the roof.

The experts are equipped with safety equipment in order to carry out the work serenely for roof gutter cleaning so as to avoid any accident due to dizziness. 

For houses with hard-to-reach gutters, as is the case with two-story house, do not take the risk and call an expert gutter cleaning companies for the cleaning. They will quickly solve your problem thanks to his expertise and know-how.

Cleaning a gutter is, therefore, a delicate operation, relatively dangerous, but nevertheless essential to ensure that your roof is completely waterproof.

The consequences of a poorly maintained gutter

The consequences of a gutter in poor condition are multiple, ranging from the most trivial to the most serious.

The appearance of cracks and deformations

During periods of frost, it happens that ice forms inside the horizontal and vertical segments of the gutters. When the temperature changes, it swells, then bursts. As a result, your system warps and cracks. This is one of the main reasons for leaks and water infiltration. It is, therefore, advisable to plug these holes as quickly as possible at the risk of aggravating the cracks.

Damage to the roof

If the water does not drain properly because of non-functional gutters, it accumulates and seeps into your roof and fascia board. In the absence of evacuation, the latter will begin to rot little by little. Similarly, if your gutter opens directly onto another lower roof, there will be premature wear of the asphalt shingles. Make sure your gutters divert water to the ground. The cost of re-roofing is much higher than the maintenance of gutters. And the costs will increase if the damage also attacks your accommodation. Hence, gutter repairs thus remain the best solution to avoid costly inconveniences.

The risks of insect development

When all kinds of debris accumulate in your drainage system, it clogs your gutters and traps water. Therefore, there is formation of wetland similar to swamps. This environment then becomes the perfect refuge for insects such as mosquitoes. Therefore, you and your family will end up with an invasion of vermin of all species

How to properly maintain your gutters

Cleaning gutters downspouts unblocking is essential to ensure proper maintenance of your home and prevent any potential problems related to an accumulation of harmful debris, mainly dead leaves. Although it is advisable to hire a company offering gutter maintenance services for the best results, it is not impossible for you to tackle the task on your own.

When you hire the services of Clean Gutter Protection, the professionals start the cleaning of your gutters at the bottom, near the drain. All the debris is removed and wash with plenty of water, ideally with a pressure washer. After having positioned the ladder, avoiding leaning it on the gutter, everything that obstructs the profiles: leaves, pine needles, seeds, nuts, insects and sometimes even bird’s nests is removed, which prevents good circulation and the ‘rainwater drainage.  The end of the downspout is temporarily blocked and filled with water. This way, if there are any leaks along the horizontal gutter, they can be easily identified. After this the descent is unblocked and the water flows out. 

Extend the life of gutters with regular gutter cleaning

Having clogged gutters cleaned means ensuring that these rainwater drainage systems do not accumulate debris. This maintenance prevents the system from being attacked by rust or corrosion which can shorten its life. If good care of the gutters is taken, they can last anywhere from 20 to 50 years depending on the material of construction used. As for downspouts, they generally have a much longer lifespan. They can last between 30 and 100 years depending on the material of manufacture.

Gutter cleaning to prevent ice dams

When the snow on the roof of your house begins to melt, the water from that melt flows into the gutters. Once in the gutters, this water freezes again due to the low temperatures in the gutters. Over time, an ice dam eventually forms, thus preventing the normal drainage of water in the gutters.

These ice dams can cause water to seep under the shingles. Moisture damages shingles, which can be expensive to repair. In the same way, icicles can also form in the gutters. This adds extra weight to gutters that they often struggle to support. As a result, gutters can come loose, leading to expensive gutter repair work.

Avoid costly and unexpected repairs

As explained above, clogged gutters can cause many problems. This is mainly damage to the walls of the house, the foundations, the siding, the roof. By cleaning gutters regularly, your house will not be subject to repetitive repairs. 

This results in huge savings in gutter cleaning cost, because the cost of cleaning clogged gutters is very low compared to the cost of massive repairs to be made when you have clogged gutters.

How to empty your inaccessible clogged gutters?

To clean your clogged gutters, you can do the work yourself or hire a specialized professional. It is strongly advised to choose the second option, to obtain quality work and to avoid the risks associated with cleaning clogged gutters. Clean Gutter Protection is the best option when looking for gutter cleaning services near me as they offer high quality cleaning services at extremely affordable prices.

In reality, cleaning gutters may seem like a fairly easy task to accomplish. However, it is important to have adequate safety equipment since the work is carried out at height. For example, protective gloves, safety glasses, dust masks, etc. At Clean Gutter Protection, we have the appropriate equipment to unclog gutters anywhere in the North Florida, regardless of the degree of obstruction in the system or its accessibility. Our experts in cleaning clogged gutters also have the right knowledge to carry out your project. Do not hesitate to contact us for a non-binding quote.