Clogged gutters are often a hassle to clean, but they can also cause damage to your home if they aren’t cleaned. Your gutter system is designed to collect water from your roof and channel it down the downspouts, away from the foundation. When they get clogged with debris, water remains stagnant in the gutters and onto the roof, causing roof leaks.
Over time, this stagnant water can lead to damage such as wood rot. Gradually, clogged gutters can weaken the structural integrity of your roof and allow water to seep into the exterior of your home.
How Clogged Gutters Cause Leaks
Here is how exactly clogged gutters cause damage to your home and why you need to keep your gutters clean and in great shape:
1. Cause the Fascia Board to Rot
Overflowing water from clogged gutters can back up into your roof, drenching your roof’s wooden components, including the fascia board. Over time, this excessive moisture, coupled with fungi spores, can trigger wood rot. Because wood is often the primary material making up the roof, it can suffer major issues when left unattended.
2. Compromised Foundation
When rainwater cannot be properly drained from your home, it also allows your foundation to sustain damages. The foundation is often the most important fixture in your entire home, and when it’s compromised by excessive water, the whole house is in danger.
3. Broken Gutters
When your gutters are clogged with debris, the water they collect lacks a place to go. Instead, it fills up your gutters to the brim. Because each gallon of water weighs about 8 pounds, all the excessive weight can bend your gutters or break them away from the roof.
4. Insects
Gutters and downspouts can clog up, causing standing water to build up. This creates an ideal habit and breeding ground for mosquitoes and other pests who can further eat away the wooden components of your roof. Mosquitoes in particular need standing water to lay their eggs, and clogged gutters provide just that.
Take Action and Clean Your Clogged Gutters!
You need to keep your gutters clear to keep them in great shape. If you live in an area which experiences heavy rains and lots of leaves during fall, it might be worth the effort to clean your gutters quarterly.
StormForce provides professional gutter installation in Jacksonville, FL, and surrounding areas. We are experts in roof installation, repair, replacement, and maintenance. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation or to request a free estimate for your roofing needs.