Gutters can be out-of-sight out-of-mind. You don’t notice your gutters unless they aren’t doing their job and then that can be too late.
You may be wondering “what damage can blocked gutters do?” There are many issues that can result from blocked gutters:
Foundation Failure
It isn’t a new waterfall feature. It’s your clogged gutter causing rainwater to spill out over the gutters and onto your porch, your front steps or near your foundation. Pooling water around your foundation can cause erosion which over time can weaken walls and lead to foundation cracks and settling. Did you know that if you have a 2,000-square foot home, every inch of rain translates to more than 1,200 gallons of water pouring down your roof? Gutters are designed to channel that water away from your foundation. Clogged ones can’t do their job.
Gutter glutenous
Your gutters are designed to collect and distribute water. A blocked gutter can back up that distribution and add extra weight to the gutter system. A gallon of water weighs about 8 pounds. Add the clog to the scales and your clogged gutters are bursting at the seams. Clogs and the weight of the water trapped in them can cause your gutters to crack or pull away from the roof.
Basement blues
Water dumped from your failing gutters to the foundation of your house will seep into the soil and into any cracks it can find. Basements are at risk of being the final collecting spot for that oversaturated ground. Damp basements carry that musty smell and potential for mold and mildew growth.
Insect infestations
No one loves pooled water like insects who breed in them. Thanks to clogged gutters, insects have a great breeding ground. Moldy leaves creating the blocked gutter can be home to bees and wasps.
Ceiling stains
Clogged gutters may do failing to their job on the outside of your house, but their failure is causing you heartache inside your home too. Check your ceiling for staining. That wet spot might be caused by water leaking into your drywall via your backed-up gutter.
Gutters can fail for a few reasons including failing to clear them of dirt, debris and leaves and also ice damning. Some gutters are undersized for the size and type of the home. Making sure your gutters are clean and clear, properly sized and attached to your home are essential steps to preventing the damage that clogged gutter can do to your home.
Consider a Replacement Gutter System
As you evaluate the state of your home’s gutters, consider the Thompson Creek replacement gutter system. The unique system uses gutter hoods to filter leaves and debris keeping your gutters clear. The seamless through installation means it will never clog or pull away from your home. And that means you won’t face the damage that clogged gutters can do to your home! Call a Thompson Creek professional for more information on a Thompson Creek gutter system for your home.