Clogged gutters – Warning signs your gutters need cleaning now
It’s easy to overlook gutters and forget they require periodic maintenance. But letting clogs persist leads to extensive home damage and expensive repairs. Don’t wait until it’s too late – be proactive in monitoring for signs of gutter clogs. Watch for these warnings that indicate it’s time to call your local gutter cleaning service for assessment and clearing.
Overflowing gutters
Gutters filled with dense debris quickly back up and overflow when it rains. Water cascading over the sides is a clear red flag. The overflow channels water right next to your home’s foundation. This excessive moisture seeps into the ground around your foundation, basement, or crawlspace. Pools of standing water collect, allowing mold growth. Water-logged soil expands and contracts, shifting your home’s foundation. Don’t tolerate overflowing gutters for long without getting them cleaned. The excess moisture causes rapid deterioration of siding, trim, and masonry. Take a ladder and peer inside downspouts and gutters. Are they nearly filled with dense growth of leaves, needles, and debris? Even small clogs accumulate over time into complete blockages. Gunk filling over 30% of the gutter’s depth impedes water flow. Try scooping out a channel by hand to test if the water drains freely. Just a few inches of packed debris cause overflow in heavy rain. Schedule gutter cleaning when debris first appears to prevent major clogging. Waiting leads to exponential debris buildup.
Leakage around gutters
Water seeping from behind gutters indicates they’ve become misaligned and separated from the fascia. This causes spillage before gutters are even nearly full. The weight of debris and ice dams also pulls gutters out of alignment. Leaks around gutters channel moisture behind siding and trim boards. It leads to rot, mold, and structural issues requiring expensive repairs. Promptly realign any gutters pulling away from the roofline and fasten them tightly. Notice yellowing streaks, peeling paint, or actual rotted wood around the base of your home? It is likely signals water spilling and pooling from clogged gutters. Constant moisture against the home’s exterior causes unsightly damage. Wood trim, siding, and masonry deteriorate rapidly. Damage escalates the longer overflow goes unaddressed, so take action at the first signs.
Ice dams around roof edges
Prolonged ice buildup along the roof eave and gutter edge is called an ice dam. It forms when the snow melts further up the roof but refreezes at the overhang. Trapped water lifts shingles and leaks into the attic. Prevent ice dams through proper insulation and ventilation. But heavy ice indicates gutters are clogged and water can’t drain off the roof. Contact a roofer to safely remove ice dams. Then clear debris so melting snow drains freely. If your downspouts are clear but you suspect blockages above them, turn a hose on full blast aimed into the gutter overflow holes. Water should rush out the downspouts instantly. If not, high-pressure water flowing in will dislodge and push out some debris. Still no luck? Disconnect the elbow at the bottom and use a plumber’s snake for manual downspout cleaning. Just know full gutters will quickly clog again without a full professional cleaning.
