Falling leaves are lovely in the fall but can fill your gutters quickly. Clogged gutters can pose a serious problem to your house. One reason for clogged gutters is a lack of maintenance after rains and over a long period. Regular maintenance of your gutter systems can prevent problems from accumulated debris. Clogged gutters can cause leakages that will lead to the growth of mold inside the house, cracked foundation, rotten wood, and other serious problems.
Roofing Damage
Clogged rain gutters can also cause rainwater to remain on your roof for a long time. This pooling water can rot the wood supports of the roof and walls. The rotting wood will then cause leakage of water into the house that will damage your property and lead to expensive roof repairs.
Growth of Mold
An un-maintained gutter system can cause mold to form inside and outside of your house. Moldy fungi can spread quickly especially inside your home and create a health hazard that requires special environmental cleanup services to remove them. This removal of mold can also be expensive. On the exterior, the leaking rainwater from clogged gutters can cause the siding to bow and become moldy. Mold or bowing may require the replacement of a large portion of your home's siding which is an expensive and challenging process.
Cracked foundations
Gutters move water away from your house's foundation. When water cannot drain away from the house properly, it falls off the roof and begins to pool at the foundation of the house, which could cause expensive damage to your foundation. As any damage to a house's foundation is a critical issue that may require your home to get re-certified for building code violations. Also, water damage to your basement can cause you to lose properties that are expensive to replace.
Avoid all these problems with your home with proper and regular maintenance to your gutter systems. Most of the problems caused by leaking gutters are expensive and time-consuming to fix. It is therefore essential to clear up your gutters of all debris regularly to avoid all these issues. In a case where you notice that there are some issues with your building already, speak to a general contractor to help you carry out a comprehensive assessment and schedule repairs immediately.
About the Author
Diana Hellman
Diana Hellman's passion for Larchmont inspires her more than 20 year real estate practice. As a certified buyer's representative, "The development of a solid and trusting relationship with my buyers and sellers is what I strive for." This success, primarily built on client referrals and repeat business, comes from her knowledge of what makes Larchmont unique: it's school system, recreational facilities, services and the special qualities that pervade this village's atmosphere. A former educator with a background in psychology, Diana knows that people don't want a sales pitch, but rather reliable, timely information. She and her husband have been residents of Larchmont for over 40 years. Her 3 children have attended the Mamaroneck Public Schools. She can give you expert advice with the sale or purchase of your home. Awards/Distinctions Multi-million dollar club- Westchester Board of Realtors International Diamond Society (8 million plus in sales), 5-Star agent in 2024. Gold Award- WBR (5-8 million dollars in sales) Silver Award – WBR (3-5 million dollars in sales) Memberships National Association of Realtors New York State Association of Realtors Westchester Board of Realtors Westchester Multiple Listing Service Community Former executive board member of the Central School Former selection school delegate for election of school board candidates Former executive board member of the Friends of the Emelin Theatre Former executive board member of the League of Women Voters