Although you may not realize it, gutters are, in fact, one of the most essential elements of any home. After all, they can ensure that rainwater doesn’t affect the integrity of your walls, thus, the structure of the building will remain intact. And, just like the roof, you’ll need to maintain the gutters as well.
If you’ve never done this particular task before, you may be wondering whether or not it’s the right time for you to do so. Luckily for all homeowners that are wondering the same thing, the article below will shed some light on the entire topic. Here are the top 8 signs that’ll indicate that you must maintain the gutters:
1. If There Are Bugs And/Or Small Animals
Source: mannyslawn.com
One of the first indicators that you’ll have to get up the roof or ladders is if you begin noticing pests and small animals on the roof. Why? Well, when your gutters get dirty, they’ll draw animals to it, hence, if you see or hear them, it’s time to wash them. Kittens, various birds, and some squirrels will be drawn by the branches, seeds, or other debris that might have ended up in the gutters, so if you leave them for too long, it could cause a more expensive problem later on.
2. Stains, Mold, Mildew
If the gutters cannot eliminate water and if they become blocked, they could compromise the safety of your house, mostly because they’ll leak when it rains. This is something that could also create stains and prompt mold and mildew growth on the walls and roof. If you start noticing these things or if you start noticing a strong odor, you must wash your gutters as soon as you can, especially since if left untreated, it could cause more harm to your house.
3. If There Are Growing Plants
Source: seamlessgutterspensacola.com
When it’s a suitable time to take care of the gutters, you’ll most likely see sprouts coming out from them. This is, perhaps, of the most recognizable flags that you’ll need to wash and clear out because various flowers will start developing when sufficient soil gathers. Weeds will definitely be present, however, flowers could bloom too. To ensure that the roots don’t get to your roof and damage it, maintain the gutters properly and, of course, frequently.
4. Roof Leaks That Keep Spreading Throughout Your Attic
If there is one thing that you must take away from this article, it’s the fact that clogged and broken gutters could lead to a leaking roof – which is something that you’ll want to avoid at all costs, especially since it’ll be expensive to repair it. If you notice the leaks spreading, you should immediately call a licensed gutter cleaning organization such as gutterspecialists.co.uk that’ll help you solve the problems you’re experiencing.
Keep in mind, when they’re clogged, rainwater won’t have anywhere to go, which means that it’ll build up on your roof. Eventually, it’ll end up in your home, which will again, compromise its safety. Of course, you’ll want to prevent leaks from happening, but if you’ve neglected to maintain your gutters often, you may also have to get in touch with a roof repair company that’ll help you take care of the issue before it destroys your house even further.
5. If There is Overflowing When There is Rain
Source: jimsmowing.co.nz
If you live in a location that has a lot of rainfall and storms, it’s quite possible that leaves, branches, as well as other debris, have ended up in your gutters, which could prompt them to clog. Hence, if the liquid is physically draining from the sides, you should consider cleaning them. Now, you may think that this is happening due to a lot of rain, however, in most situations, this isn’t the case, they’re simply clogged.
6. If They’re Hanging From The Roof or Sagging
When there is a lot of rubble in the channels and when they get filled with water, it’s highly possible that they’ll start hanging or sagging from your roof. This means that it can no longer support the growing weight. This can also occur due to creatures being drawn to it, and if left dirty and clogged, they’ll become unstable which could cause them to fall down and injure you, one of your family members, or even your pets. This is why you must ensure that you remove any clogs that may be present.
7. If You Never Washed Them Before
Source: roofworksinc.com
Whether you moved into your house recently or if you’ve been living there for some time, if you cannot recall when they were cleaned the last time or if you know that you’ve never washed them before, it’s time for you to do so. Generally speaking, you’ll have to rinse them a few times per year, especially before spring and autumn, hence, to ensure that everything is okay with them, either call an expert to clean them or do it by yourself a few times every year or before each season.
8. If The Surfaces Around Your House Remain Slippery
Last on our list, but also a sign that you should be careful of is when the surfaces around your house get slippery whenever there is rain. Now, keep in mind, even if you haven’t noticed overflowing or some other signs that we’ve mentioned above, if the surfaces that shouldn’t be wet are, call a professional immediately, especially since it can cause someone to slip, fall, and injured themselves while walking around your house after rain.
Conclusion
It’s pretty safe to say that gutters are the most overlook component of any home, but still, they’re the most crucial one as well. Hence, to ensure that you don’t have to pay for some expensive repairs later on and to ensure that the structure of your house is secure, clean, and maintain your gutters properly, and periodically.
Since you now know some of the most frequent red flags that you’ll need to rinse and wash your gutters, don’t lose time. Instead, you should either take care of it by yourself or if you don’t feel comfortable working at heights, find a professional that’ll help you maintain them.
