When gutters do their job, people rarely notice them. However, when a gutter allows water to overflow the sides, the homeowner will quickly notice, especially when they must walk through this water when entering or exiting the home.
Cleaning the gutters reduces the risk of someone being doused in water unintentionally. However, this cleaning does much more than that. What don’t homeowners know about this process?
Basement Floods
Did you know rainwater runoff is the main reason basements flood today? Gutter Cleaning helps to prevent this from happening. Even if the basement doesn’t flood, water entering the home because of clogged gutters can cause damage.
This water can lead to moisture issues and mold growth. It may damage appliances or cause family members to become ill. In addition, it can lead to the HVAC system working harder to remove the excess humidity in the home. Prevent these problems by having the gutters cleaned a minimum of twice each year.
Gutters Collect Unusual Things
When a person cleans their gutters, they expect to find leaves and other debris. However, they may find many other things in the gutter system.
Birds and rodents often make their home in the gutters, or stinging insects might find this the perfect place to build their nests. However, it isn’t always living creatures that make their way into gutters.
Gutter cleaning specialists have found unusual items when doing their jobs. Socks have been found in gutters along with coins. One company even found a TV remote in the gutters when cleaning for a homeowner, while another found a missing set of keys.
Call a gutter cleaning provider to have the gutter system cleaned and inspected. That item missing from home may be found as they complete their task.
Downspout Spacing
Most homeowners assume they can get away with only one or two downspouts on the home. Actually, a home needs a downspout every 20 to 25 feet, on average. If the area receives a lot of rain or the roof is large, more downspouts may be needed to remove the water effectively.
Talk with the gutter cleaning team to learn how many downspouts should be on the home. They will help the homeowner find the right balance between the number of downspouts and the homeowner’s budget.
A Haven for Earthworms
Earthworms live underground, but they may also be found in gutters. It seems like it would take forever for an earthworm to make it up to the gutters to take up residence.
Scientists believe earthworms don’t actually make this journey. They hypothesize worm eggs make their way into the gutter with the help of birds. The eggs become attached to a bird’s legs or wings. When the bird lands on or near the gutter, the eggs fall off. They then hatch inside the clogged gutter, and the homeowner finds they must remove the worms along with any leaves and other debris.
An Ancient Invention
Many people assume gutters are fairly new. However, they have actually been around for centuries. The Harappan civilization once lived in the area now known as Pakistan. They invented the first gutter system in the period between 3000 and 1500 BC.
During that time, they used water-borne toilets. These toilets were connected by drains, which the Harappan people covered with burnt clay bricks. This system moved water away from buildings to prevent damage. It’s highly likely they had to clean these gutters, too.
Gutters Shouldn’t Be Even
A homeowner may look at their gutter system and see it doesn’t look perfectly even. They worry that something is wrong with the system and call for a repair or replacement.
However, gutters must have a slight pitch to allow the water to flow to the downspouts. This pitch shouldn’t be noticeable to the average person, but it is there. If the pitch is steep, it might be time to have the gutters inspected. This could mean the system is failing and water will be entering places it shouldn’t.
Reach out to a gutter cleaning team for this inspection. They are happy to analyze the system to see if there are problems waiting to happen.
Gutters for a Car?
Several decades ago, cars often came with gutters, although they were referred to as drip rails. These gutters were designed to protect the occupants of the car from falling rain and snow as they exited the vehicle.
However, vehicle manufacturers realized the drip rails negatively affected the aerodynamics of the car. In addition, they added to wind noise. As a result, the manufacturers chose to phase the gutters out in the 1980s. Drivers didn’t seem to realize they did, either.
Landscaping Issues
People often look at their landscape and wonder why certain areas problems and others have do not. The gutter system could be to blame for these problem areas. Examine the gutter system in that area to see if excess water is washing the landscape out.
Don’t assume animals are doing damage. It never hurts to have the gutter system inspected, as this inspection ensures problems are caught early. If the gutter system is in good shape, then it is time to consider other causes.
Twice a Year Might Not Be Enough
Homes in heavily wooded areas often require multiple gutter cleanings each year. When the leaves fall, they can quickly clog the gutters. Consider having the gutters cleaned in early fall when the leaves come down rapidly.
Call the gutter cleaning team to come back when the trees are bare. This ensures they remove any remaining leaves in the gutters, so the home is ready for winter and the accompanying weather.
Never discount the importance of gutter cleaning. The gutters do more than remove water from the roof. They protect the home’s foundation and landscaping. As many things make their way into the gutters over time, this is one job no homeowner should put off.
Call today for a professional cleaning. The cost is minimal when compared to the cost of repairing the home and landscaping if water makes its way somewhere it shouldn’t.
