Why is it important to recognize the signs of clogged gutters?
Clogged gutters can mean a big headache for you and your home. If your gutters are clogged water isn’t being effectively diverted away from your home, instead spilling onto the side of your home. This water damage can lead to foundation damage, structural issues, mold and/or mildew, and possible basement flooding. Often, homeowners don’t know that their gutters are clogged until there a heavy rainfall makes the problem known. These expensive and troublesome issues can be easily avoided by checking your home’s gutters frequently for signs of clogged gutters. Read on to hear about the signs that you have clogged gutters and how unclogging them can save you from thousands of dollars of home repair.
Telltale signs of clogged gutters
Many of the signs that your drains are clogged are evident only when it rains. One of the most obvious signs, in this regard, is that water is spilling out of the drains before it has a chance to funnel down the drain that leads to your drainage system. This water that is essentially being pushed over the side of your house can cause extensive water damage to both the external and internal frame of your home.
Other storm-related signs that you might have clogged gutters include soggy floors after a rainstorm, indicating that water may have run down the interior walls of your home and leaked into living spaces. If you have noticed any staining on your siding, it might indicate that you have standing water in your gutter system. This stagnant water can cause significant damage to the boards behind the gutters or to the shingles of your home’s roof.
Other visual marks and signs of clogged gutters
Some of the signs that your drains are clogged can be viewed from the ground below your drains. If your gutters are sagging, collapsing or pulling away from the home, this may be a sign that your gutters are clogged (and are certainly a sign they need some attention!). Gutters aren’t designed to hold standing water or heavy, saturated material like wet leaves and will push the gutters down and possibly even rupture them.
Water damage from a clogged gutter can cause rust or mildew to appear around the sides or top of your home. Rust and mildew can be unsightly, but worse, they can cause further damage to your gutter system and should be addressed before larger issues arise.
Signs of animal or plant life near your roof can also be a signal that your home’s drains are clogged. Animals from snakes and mice to squirrels and birds will often use clogged gutters as homes and nests. Clogged gutters can accumulate enough dirt to allow weeds and plants to germinate from seeds that have blown by in storms or been deposited by birds. If you see any signs of persistent life such as birds or plants in your gutters, it is time to have your gutters cleaned.
What to do if you suspect clogged gutters
If your gutters exhibit any of these signs of clogging, contact the team at Ned Stevens as your professional gutter cleaning service. Our work is fully guaranteed and we carry full workers’ compensation and liability insurance. Our staff provides superior gutter repair services in Fort Collins, CO and will perform the work to the highest of possible standards. Call us today and get $25 off your first gutter cleaning!
