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Why Is It Necessary To Clean My Gutters?

    

It’s fall — that time of year when all of those beautiful leaves that have been on the trees do what they’re supposed to do when the temperature begins to drop. Leaves fall on sidewalks, streets, yards, and lastly, your gutters. One may think that since gutters are open on either end that leaves would work their way through the downspout or get pushed out by rainwater, but that isn’t always the case.

Gutters and downspouts can get clogged, and that’s when trouble ensues. Let’s examine why it is critical to remove leaves and debris from your gutters, how you can tell if gutters are clogged, who do you hire to clean your gutters, and how often your gutters should be cleaned.

How Can I Tell It’s Time To Clean or Repair My Gutters?

The gutter system on your house acts as the traffic control for rainwater. Gutters this time of year work overtime to ensure rainwater gets funneled properly. Here are the signs that it’s time to clean or repair your gutters:

1. Rainwater Is Overflowing From the Gutters

The gutter system is designed to drain the rainwater from the roof away from the house. This is to protect the underlayment of your roof and the siding from excess moisture that could lead to wood rot. When gutters are clogged, they lose their ability to control water overflow properly. The result is water buildup that overflows onto the siding rather than draining away from your home.

2. The Gutters Are Sagging

Clogs are the most common cause of sagging. When there is an accumulation of leaves and debris in the gutters, the water has nowhere to flow. This backup can not only cause water overflow, but the backup can damage the gutters. The soggy leaves and debris weight will cause the gutters to sag and cause stress to the gutters. Gutters were not designed to handle this extra weight, and sagging is often the result.

3. Water Stains on Siding

Notice any streaks or stains running along your siding? That could be a sign that your gutters need cleaning. The water that is backed up overflows onto the siding, and the staining is the result.

4. Standing Water Around Your Home’s Foundation

The absolute last thing any homeowner wants to experience is a damaged foundation. A home’s foundation is the base that anchors your home to the ground while preventing moisture from getting inside. Clogged or damaged gutters can cause damage to your home’s foundation. When the water penetrates the ground, the soil expands. That expansion places extra stress and pressure on the walls of the foundation. This is especially dangerous in the winter months when the foundation gets wet, freezes, and thaws. This is called the freeze-thaw effect, and it can cause cracks in the foundation.

5. Plants Are Growing From Your Gutters

This is a sign that the excess dirt in your gutters needs to be cleaned out.

 Schedule Gutter Cleaning in DC, MD, or VA Today

The bottom line is if you notice any of the signs above, it’s time to call a professional gutter cleaning service before any damage happens to your foundation or wood rot occurs. Professionals gutter cleaning companies will clean and flush your gutters and downspouts and make sure that the water flows out of them freely.

Testimonials
See what people
are saying about KEVCO.

“I became a KEVCO customer when I first started in Commercial Property Management over 15+ years ago. I have used them at every property that I have ever managed and even at my home for both window cleaning and pressure washing. They are responsive and professional, and their pricing is always competitive.”

D. Jamison
Vice President Property Management, Moore & Associates

“We are a real estate company, and use Kevco to wash windows, clean gutters and power wash for our clients getting their homes ready to place on the market. They are always at the property when they say they will be, do their job quickly, leave the property in excellent condition, are very professional, and…”

Amy King
Homeowner/Residential Real Estate Agent, King Real Estate

“I love KEVCO and call them every year for services. I have been using KEVCO for about 10 years to clean gutters and windows at our farm property. They are always prompt and exceptional in their work. I have recommended them to many people and will continue to do so.”

L. White
Clarksville, MD

“When I need home exterior cleaning services, Kevco is the company that I always call. They have cleaned my windows, gutters and pressure cleaned my patio and the other hardscape areas at my house for years. I recently thought that I would have to resurface my front steps as they appeared dirty. Kevco came over,…”

L. Galfond
Homeowner

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The information on this website is for informational purposes only; it is deemed accurate but not guaranteed. It does not constitute professional advice.
All information is subject to change at any time without notice. Contact us for complete details.

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