Water damage caused by clogged gutters

If you think a few leaves and debris in your gutters are harmless, think again. Regular gutter cleaning is the single most important key to avoiding major and expensive home repairs. The purpose of your gutters is to redirect rain water away from your home. If debris keeps gutters from doing their job, you can wind up with some serious problems. We've listed a few of them below.

Leaking Gutters
Water problems in basements can be caused by clogged gutters. When gutters become clogged, water overflows off of your roof and accumulates around the foundation. Once this happens it may only be a matter of time before your basement begins to leak.

Cracked Foundations
Clogged gutters will cause water to accumulate against the foundation wall. This will cause the footing to weaken and lead to foundation wall cracks. This is very common in the winter months when built-up water at the foundation freezes and causes a condition known as "frost-heave" which can cause severe cracks to foundation walls.

Rotting Wood
Backed up water from clogged gutters will cause moisture damage to the wood fascia around your house. The rotted area will quickly get worse if the leak is not eliminated by cleaning the gutters.

Leaking Roofs
In winter, ice dams can form on top of clogged gutters. Snow then builds up across the top of the clogged gutter and freezes. During the next thaw, water running off the roof is blocked by the frozen snow and backs up into the house. This can lead to major wall and ceiling damage.

Slippery Sidewalks
Clogged, overflowing gutters can deposit water on walks and driveways where it can freeze and cause a slipping hazard. Avoid this problem by keeping gutters clean and down spouts cleaned.

Cracked Driveways
Water overflow from clogged gutters can cause driveways and walks to sag and crack.

Washed Out Landscaping
Any newly installed plants, grass or trees can be killed by excess water from clogged gutters. Overflowing gutters can cause severe erosion and kill any young plantings.

Wood Destroying Insects
Bugs love moisture. Keeping gutters free of clogs and keeping the soil dry around the foundation perimeter can force bugs to go elsewhere.

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