Why is it so important to maintain your rain gutters?
Everyone knows there is some reason to maintain a rain gutter. Most people may not even give it a second thought beyond the visual aspect. Often, it seems to be an extension of the roof, nothing more nothing less. However, regular care and maintenance are a crucial component to the safety and structure of a home. Safety and structure are important, keeping your home safe matters. If your rain gutters are faulty or worn there are big troubles on the horizon and here’s why.
Rain gutters are your roof’s delivery system. The gutters will direct water flow out and away from a home’s roof line carrying that overflow away from the foundation. A clear rain gutter is a vital role in a vital system of protecting the structure and foundation of a home. They are an essential feature and play a crucial role in carrying away heavy rain and an often-overlooked element in maintenance. Keeping a home’s rain gutter in good repair, maintained and clear, directly impacts the ability of that rain gutter to do what it is wholly purposed for, keeping water from eroding the foundation.
The main downside to rain gutters is that they require work and that work must be constant. In most cases, a homeowner is not as vigilant about this maintenance as they should be. Keeping your roof and particularly your rain gutters clean, cannot and should not be an occasional, reactionary act. Pulling leaves, pine needles, weeds and soil out at the start of a rainy season may already be too late. This is an act of care and upkeep that needs constant attention. As a measure of safety, if water cannot effectively flow out and away it just stays put. Standing water on the roof, on the foundation and in the gutters will cause roof and foundational leaks, fire hazard particularly during fire season and most common and unpleasantly become a breeding ground for mosquitoes. All aforementioned outcomes are increasingly unwelcome and thought to be avoided at all costs.
The frequency by which someone cleans out their rain gutters largely depends on their home. Homes that maintain trees within approximately 10 to 15 feet of the roof line generally need to clean out their gutters at least twice a year. And homes, again dependent on their surroundings, may need that just in fall and winter alone. The assumption should never be less is more. And homes that may not have close proximity to trees are not out of the risk category either. Different types of tiles and shingles may create their own debris for the gutters and also need to be cleaned and maintained. A general lack of consideration and care will undoubtedly create costly consequences.
Unbeknownst to a homeowner, a blocked rain gutter could easily redirect the flow of rainwater right into a home’s walls or foundation. Exterior soil erosion comes as a result of flowing waterfalls from the roof, directly affecting and aiding in the deterioration of the foundation. A whole host of larger and costly ramifications for a home’s structure.
A homeowner’s greatest line of defense is an effective offense. An effective offense is partnering with a skilled maintenance team. Constant attention, all year round to insure the safety and security, when it’s needed most. Imperial Roof Management, 888.642.3070
