Gutter cleaning is vital for you and the health of your home. Clogged and unclean gutters can not only prove to be detrimental to your safety but can also cause diseases and other illnesses. There are several ways that you can figure out if your gutters are clogged or blocked. We have prepared a comprehensive list of factors that can help you determine if your gutters need professional cleaning or not.
Increased animal activity around the house
One of the first signs that your rainwater is not being drained properly is that the animal activity around your house will start increasing. You will start noticing that there are more birds, squirrels and other rodents that make their way around your porch or back garden. This is because when the gutters get clogged, the water starts pooling on the roof as it’s not being drained. This makes the perfect conditions for the animals to make a habitat or a house in. They might even start entering your attic or making nests on top of your roof. Other than the animals, there might also be a lot of pests that will start showing about. This mostly includes invasive species like mosquitoes that are bad for both- you as well as your local flora and fauna.
The easiest way to determine if this is happening on your roof is by observing the number of animals or birds that are making their way to your roof. Also, keep an eye out for bugs.
Leaking roof
The second sign that usually appears is the leaking roofs. When the water starts getting pooled on the top of the roofs, it will eventually start getting absorbed by the wooden structure in the roof. This can cause your attic to start flooding along with problems like termites and other wood-eating parasites making their way into your house and attacking other wooden structures. The roof leak will be the next thing. This is extremely detrimental to the structure of your house as water getting trapped between the foundation and the paint can lead to sagging ceilings and multiple cracks. The roof leaks can also make room for bugs and rodents to crawl into your house and in the worst-case scenario, you can end up with an infestation.
Foundation shift
This usually happens when the water is being drained too close to the house (or not far enough!) The water getting drained starts getting absorbed by the soil around your house. This water then seeps into the foundational soil and the foundation itself. This can cause the foundation to start shifting. If you have a back garden, this foundational shift can be seen there with your flowerbed being destroyed due to soil erosion. Another way to determine if your foundation is shifting is by checking the basement. Often, foundation shifts can lead to basement flooding. You might also start noticing that the walls on the outside and the inside of the house are starting to crack. If not taken care of in time, the whole house is in danger of collapsing. It is important to include the check on foundation when looking for signs that you might need a gutter cleaning.
Mildew and Moss
It is hard to miss the moss and mildew growing around your house because of how bad they smell. Mildew and ivy or moss usually start growing around the house because of the amount of moisture present. This can usually be identified by looking at the walls on the outside. If you notice water splashes or a green patch, then know that your gutters are not draining far enough away. An easy way to fix it is by getting professionals to determine what is a safe distance away. To do so, you can now click here for a free quote and advice.
How to Clean the Gutters
There are two ways for gutter cleaning- either by climbing up a ladder or by staying on the ground. The safer way is by staying on the ground. If your house is more than one story tall, it is advised you DO NOT climb up a ladder to clean, and instead ask for professional help to reduce the risk of harming yourself.
You can clean your gutters by standing on the ground by using a water hose to wash out all the debris. However, be careful as this can lead to dirty walls. Make sure you are dressed for the occasion as cleaning with a water hose can be a messy job. If you plan on using a ladder, make sure that it has the safety lids on or there is someone that is standing on the bottom of the ladder to ensure your ladder does not tip over. You can now either use an air hose to slowly start blasting the debris out of the gutter or you can start scooping it up and removing it. No matter the method you follow, make sure that you clean the downspout and the pipe with water afterwards
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