.2209261427416.png "Before & after photos of a gutter full of debris and cleaned out.")
Most homeowners give little thought to gutters, that mighty, long-suffering system protecting your house. And we get it: At face value, there’s nothing particularly inspiring about gutters. They just dangle along the lip of your roof and hang out—or do they?
In truth, clean, free-flowing gutters protect your home’s foundation, exterior, shingles, landscaping, and driveways. So stop ignoring the loyal apparatus that serves you so well. Here are five more reasons to clean your home’s gutter system.
Pests
Who loves water more than a dolphin with a beach ball? Mosquitoes. When water collects, mosquitoes breed in concentrated water. Carpenter ants, rats, and other pests also love making beds in the debris you left roasting in your gutter troughs.
Clear out the leaves and water, and force pests to make their rent-free dream home elsewhere.
Extend Gutter Lifespan
Well-maintained gutters can last 20-50 years. Downspouts can last even longer—as long as 30-100 years. Yet, unmaintained gutters can deteriorate in a single season. Why? Because accumulated debris and water are heavy, and gutters aren’t designed to handle the load.
Sagging, cracked gutters aren’t pretty—neither is the $600-$1,500 bill you’ll get when you ask a professional to replace them.
Cracked Foundation
Believe it or not, your gutter system plays a significant role in protecting your home’s foundation. When gutters clog, water has nowhere to go but down. First, the water pools around the base of your home. Then, it settles, seeps into the ground, and touches your home’s foundation.
Over time, water will weaken your foundation, causing it to crack, shift, and settle—but only after you experience uneven floors and cracks in the walls and ceiling.
The cost to repair a cracked foundation? Brace yourself: $2,000-10,000.
Curb Appeal
Your home probably won’t sell, and, sorry, but you won’t make your neighbors jealous just because you have the cleanest gutters on the block. That said, clean gutters look good because no one notices them at all.
Anyone with a set of eyeballs will notice sagging, overflowing gutters from the street. There goes your curb appeal. Whether you’re selling your home or simply wish to preserve the integrity of your biggest investment, clean gutters go a long ways.
Ice Dams
You know the saying, “If looks could kill?” Such is the case with ice dams. Ice dams create long, elegant (and deadly) icicles that extend from your gutters.
Ice dams form when roof snow melts and runs into the gutters. If your gutters are packed with debris, the water will rise up, freeze, and form icicles along the sides of your gutter system. The icicles are nice to look at, but admission isn’t free.
Falling icicles can injure. Plus, ice is heavy and will cause gutters to crack, sag, and corrode, all while damaging your roof and shingles.
Want to Leave Gutter Cleaning to the Professionals?
Men in Kilts offers complete gutter and downspout cleaning. If you’d like to find out how much it would cost to have us professionally clean your gutters, we’d be happy to provide you with a free estimate.
