Most of us look at cleaning our gutters as a job we’d rather not do. If it’s not something we do ourselves, we have to hire someone else to do it for us. However, hiring a professional is actually a great idea.
Your gutters and drainage system have a very important job. During the year, they can get full of leaves, nests, and other debris that blocks them. Ideally, you should have them cleaned in spring and fall.
Why Cleaning Your Gutters is Crucial for Your Home’s Foundation
Pay attention to your gutters. Having them cleaned professionally or even doing it yourself can save you a lot of money and aggravation from damage and leaks. Getting up there and cleaning your gutters also gives you a good idea of what is going on up there.
If you hire a professional, they can tell if there are any current or potential problems or damage with your gutters. Prevention is the best cure for damages that can end up becoming much larger problems very quickly.
Foundation Damage
When the water is trapped in the gutters, it eventually needs to go someplace. That someplace is often down your walls and the side of your house. This water all ends up pooling around the base of your home.
This water also needs someplace to go, and that’s where problems start. The water can seep into your foundation and cause cracks and leaks to occur. It can get all the way into your basement and weaken the foundation.
Once the foundation starts to erode, there is shifting and settling. This can end up causing damage to your floors, roof, walls, door, and window frames, and will cost you a lot in repairs.
Roof Damage
Cleaning your gutters can also help keep your roof in great shape. Once the gutters get clogged with leaves or garbage the water will overflow and settle on your roof.
Pooling water on the roof will eventually seep through causing damage and leaks. Leaking roofs are a problem and will only get worse. These leaks pose a problem to your entire home and your belongings.
This water will seep down through your walls, causing water stains, peeling paint and wallpaper, and cracks. It can warp beams and floors, add way too much humidity to the home, causing other parts of the home to warp.
It will eventually make its way to the basement and your foundation, which is what you really want to avoid. Mold, mildew, odors, and an open invitation to bugs and rodents are also on offer.
Gutter System
Cleaning your gutters also saves your gutters. If they are allowed to sit full of water or ice, they can actually get too heavy and completely pull away from the roof and the home.
But it won’t just be the gutters that need to be replaced. They will damage the entire area they were attached to. Again, all that water that has been sitting there is going to come down the side of your home and make a huge mess.
Cleaning Your Gutters
If you don’t want to clean your gutters yourself, hire a professional to get the job done right. That way, you get an inspection at the same time. You can trust the professionals at Olson Foundation Repair.
Keeping your entire drainage system in perfect working order saves you a lot of headaches and a lot of money in repairs. Don’t hesitate to Call Us for any drainage solutions you need or foundation inspections and repair.