Houses don’t come cheap, so you want to be sure you are looking after yours to avoid costly damage. One effective way of doing this is by cleaning out your gutters. While they may seem insignificant, if they are not up to par, they can have disastrous consequences on the condition of your home. Here are 10 reasons why you shouldn’t ignore your gutter maintenance if it is due.
ONE. It can cause structural issues
Problems with the integrity of your home is never a good thing, and clogged gutters can most certainly cause this. Water is the culprit. When it rains and water can’t run away freely, it can pool at the foundation of your home and spill into your roof cavity. If the problem is not fixed, it can cause widespread damage.
TWO. Prevents unwanted pests
Gutters that are full of leaves, twigs, and debris, along with pockets of water and food sources such as fungi, make the ideal environment for unwanted pests such as rodents to set up home. If you have rats or similar living in your gutters, you can bet your bottom dollar that they’ll get onto your home. These pests can carry diseases and chew through electrical work. The less inviting your gutters are, the less likely that pests such as these will have a long-term residence at your place.
THREE. Maintain your homes appearance and value
Intact gutters not only look better, but they can help your home to keep its value. This is especially true if your home has suffered because of poor guttering. If you would like to sell, this can be a huge drawback for prospective buyers. Gutter problems will often get picked up in the building and pest inspection. If your gutters need repairing or have caused damage, the buyer may request a reduction on their offer or pull out altogether. If you plan on selling anytime in the near or distant future, make sure your gutters are in proper working order.
FOUR. Protect your families health
When you think of compromised guttering, your family’s health probably isn’t the first thing that comes to mind, however, excess water and moisture build-up can cause an array of issues such as mould and bacteria growth. Both of which can be hazardous to one’s health. If you have pests residing in your gutters, this can make your family more susceptible to diseases, as many are easily transmissible to humans.
FIVE. Keep your landscaping alive
If your gutters aren’t functioning as they should, and they are broken or full of debris, when it rains, instead of the water heading to the downpipes, it will overflow from the guttering and flood your plants and greenery.
SIX. Extend the lifespan of your roof
When water is directed away from your roof and not towards it, you can extend its lifespan drastically. Considering your roof is integral to keeping your home dry and protected from the elements, it’s key that the necessary steps are taken to keep it in optimal working order.
SEVEN. Prevent your gutters from prematurely deteriorating
Cleaning your gutters often will ensure they don’t get weighed down from a build-up of debris or water. Excessive weight in your gutters can place strain on the contraption and cause them to pull away or break as a result.
EIGHT. Allows you see to minor issues before they become major ones
Cleaning out your gutters is a good opportunity for you to inspect them. This can allow you to fix minor issues before they have a chance to become major ones. This can give you a lot of headaches and money.
NINE. Prevent your gutters from rusting out
Older styles of guttering are susceptible to rust, and if water is left to sit in them for extended periods, this will progress the problem at a rapid rate. Rust will eat away at the gutters and create holes in the mechanism. Instead of the water directing to the downpipes, it seeps out through the holes and onto the house.
TEN. Protect your home in bushfire season
Bushfires can occur at any time and anywhere. If your gutters are full of dry leaf litter and twigs and there’s a fire nearby, your home is more at risk of catching alight. Embers can fly some distance in the wind, and if they land in a gutter brimming with dead organic matter, it’s extremely likely that it’ll ignite and before you know it, your entire roof is engulfed in flames. Even if you don’t live in a bushfire prone area, you never know when a fire may occur, for example, a neighbouring housefire. It’s always better to be safe than sorry, and as a bonus, you are reaping all the benefits mentioned above as well.
As you can see, there are many benefits to cleaning out your gutters, a little effort goes a long way to keeping you, your family, and your home safe.
We understand that cleaning out gutters is a messy job, and it can be easy to put it on the back burner for a later date. Why tackle it yourself when you can call in the professionals here at Global Vac Gutter Cleaning? We use vacuum technology and can clean your gutters quickly, leaving no mess behind. Contact us today.
