Water is the biggest enemy of buildings as it can damage the roof and other parts of the building if allowed to settle or overflowwhen the drainage system does not function properly. To protect the roof, foundation, and the building structure from water damage, you must ensure that the gutters that drain away water from the roof functions well.
Neglecting gutter maintenance can become a nightmare for homeowners because it damages the building enormously as water flows into all areas and weakens the building structure.
Debris accumulation like leaves, sticks, tree branches and twigs in gutters block the flow of water down the spouts and find its way to other parts of the building besides forming pools of water on the roof that cause extensive damage.
Periodical gutter cleaning ensures proper water drainage and helps to maintains good building health.
What are the other reasons for keeping gutters clean will become clear on going through this article.
Keep away pests
Clogged gutters not only restrict water drainage but pose some other problem too. The debris collected in gutters creates a haven for pests that use it for nesting and pose serious threats to the building’s residents. Small birds, too, can use clogged gutters to build cozy nests as these are ready to host the bird family. Mosquitoes also can use it as a breeding ground and aggravate health problems. Cleaning gutters periodically by yourself or by engaging a roofing company like https://benchmarkroofing.com can help maintain a healthy environment that encourages healthy living.
Prevent fascia damage
Gutters are an integral part of the roofing system, and keeping in clean protects the roof from water damage that can result in costly repairs and may even lead to roof replacement. But even more worrying is the damage that can cause to other parts of the building.
For example, damaged or clogged gutters can harm the building’s fascia, which is the board that runs behind the gutter and is a part of the gutter system. Water accumulation in the gutters can damage the fascia.
Foundation protection
Clogged gutters prevent water from flowing down the spouts and force it to find other ways of reaching the ground by overflowing across the walls and pooling along the foundation of the building. Water accumulation around the foundation is dangerous as it soaks in the ground and loosens the foundation base that starts cracking.
In cold climates, the accumulated water turns into ice, which expands in volume and puts enormous pressure on the foundation and develops cracks.
Clean gutters ensure that water flows smoothly and drains at specific points at some distance from the foundation, thereby keeping the foundation protected from water damage.
Protect the gutter brackets
Gutters rest upon brackets to stay in position, but when there is clogging, the weight of the debris and the accumulated water in the pipeline becomes too much for the brackets to withstand, which then break away. When brackets are damaged, the entire gutter system collapses.
Besides regular gutter cleaning, using gutter covers prevents clogging.
