One of the most important parts of your roof is your roof. It helps keep you high and dry through the harshest of sun and roughest of storms. One part of this is the gutters which creates a path for water to drain out of your roof. Keeping your gutters maintained is as important as maintaining the roof itself. Neglecting it could have a host of problems that could affect not only the longevity of your roof but also of the rest of your home.
Why Gutter Maintenance Is Important
Having properly functioning gutters are important for making sure that your roof stays in top condition. Without proper maintenance your gutters won’t be able to properly divert water from your roof to the ground. You might think that it isn’t so bad to keep neglecting it. Neglecting your gutters can cause a large number of problems for you in the future some of which include:
Rust, Rot, and Degradation
With water not getting diverted properly, your roof will slowly degrade as time goes by. Wood will rot and soften, making it weaker over time and metal will rust with the continued water exposure. The water will also take a more direct route through your home rather than be diverted to a location where it won’t affect it. This creates leaks that could have been avoided. The water will also go down the side of your home and most likely affect your walls and even the foundation that holds your home in place.
Your Gutter Could Loosen and Fall
One part of proper maintenance is cleaning your gutters of debris and foreign objects. Neglecting this will end up putting unnecessary weight on your gutters. This could lead to your gutter detaching from your roof and falling. This is not only bad for your home since it isn’t good to look at but also the fact that it could seriously hurt anyone under the gutter if it falls.
Insects and Other Pests
Mosquitoes, termites, and ants can end up making nests in your gutters if you don’t properly clean them. Mosquitoes are carriers of disease, while ants and termites will slowly chew through your home and weaken it structurally. Some people are also allergic to certain insect bites and some are not even aware of these allergies until they are bitten. This could end in them getting hospitalized. 3% of all insect bites can lead to deadly allergic reactions and mosquito borne diseases affected nearly 48,000 people in 2016 alone.
When and How Often Should I Maintain My Gutters?
Your gutter needs to be cleaned at least two or three times a year to keep it from failing on you. Try to do it during the days when you’re sure that it isn’t going to rain while you’re up on your roof getting rid of all the debris in your gutters. Watch out for signs of wear on your gutters and have it replaced if it looks like it won’t be able to handle the next rainy season.
