Gutters might be an integral part of your home. But more often than not, it’s the gutters that are the first thing to be overlooked when it comes to cleaning and maintaining the outside of a house.
Blocked, dirty or mouldy gutters not only look bad, but they can also lead to serious structural problems if they aren’t cleaned out. Gutter cleaning needs to take place a few times each year, but for the uninitiated, it can be difficult knowing when it’s time to call in the professionals.
There are many signs you can look out for though, from plant growth to animal activity. We asked our expert gutter cleaning staff what the most common signs are.
One of the first signs that you might need to call for a professional gutter clearing service is animals and pests by the roof.
Dirty gutters can attract the most unlikely of creatures. If you hear a lot of scampering around outside or see a lot of animal activity where you wouldn’t expect it, your gutters more than likely need a good clean.
Birds, squirrels and even cats will be attracted by the twigs, leaves, nuts or anything else they might find useful or edible that works its way into the gutters. Leave things too long and you could even end up with an unwanted rodent problem.
If it’s time for a gutter cleaning, then you’re likely to see a lot of plant growth coming from your gutters. This is a sure-fire sign that you’re well overdue a good clearing out, because plants will only begin to grow when there’s enough soil and nutrients present in the gutters. If there is, they can thrive.
Weeds will be the most common plant, but you might also see small plants and even flowers beginning to bloom over time. The flowers might look pretty, but you’ll need to get them cleaned out.
Blocked gutters can cause serious damage to your home if the debris starts to cause them to overflow and to flood when it rains.
The flooding can quickly cause staining and mildew when water begins to splash onto the walls or roof. You might notice the obvious signs of staining beneath the gutters or detect a pungent smell of mildew, before you notice your gutters actually start to overflow.
One of the biggest structural problems that can occur without a professional gutter cleaning service is a leaking roof. This is an obvious sign that you have a blocked gutter and, at this point, you can’t ignore the signs any longer.
If your gutters are blocked, then rain won’t have anywhere to drain to. This will cause a build-up on your roof, which can eventually leak through into your home. You need to have your gutter cleared out long before you have a leaky roof, because fixing your roof is going to cost much more than a comprehensive gutter clearing service.
If your gutters have been blocked for a long time, then you might also start to see damage to the brickwork or cracked walls due to overflowing water.
Like a leaking roof, these are extreme signs. To minimise damage and costs, you really need to have your gutter cleared out before it gets to this point.
Another sign that your gutters need cleaning is when you see water physically overflowing from them. At first, it might be a simple trickle or runoff, but if it’s left too long that trickle can easily turn into a full-on waterfall during heavy rain.
Overflowing gutters have the potential to cause immense structural problems, such as cracking, mould and leaky roofs.
Slippery surfaces are another common sign that you need to call in the gutter cleaners.
You might not notice water overflowing or mould building up, but you might notice that surfaces are slippery from damp or slippery after heavy rainfall.
Not only is this dangerous for you and your family, but it’s a sign that your gutters are probably blocked.
If your gutters become too dirty, they can start to sag when the build-up of debris becomes too much for the supports to handle.
This can happen if there is a lot of plant growth or if animals are attracted to your gutters. If left too long, the gutters themselves can become unstable if they aren’t cleaned out properly.
Debris gets especially heavy when it rains, as leaves and plants soak up all that extra rainwater. This makes gutters much heavier, and you could even face collapse if there’s particularly bad weather.
If the weather is changing then it’s a good time to have your gutters cleaned. Changing weather means it’s a new season, and gutters need to be cleaned out several times a year.
Changing weather can also mean more or less rainfall. Either way, it’s a good chance to have your gutters shored up for the coming season.
If you can’t remember the last time you had your gutters cleaned, then it’s definitely time to call in the professionals!
Gutters realistically need to be cleaned several times a year, but for many homeowners, they are overlooked by more immediate problems. If left too long though, blocked gutters can cause serious damage, and that damage will cost you a lot more than a professional gutter cleaning service would have.
Do your gutters need cleaning? Have you seen signs that your gutters might be clogged up? At Direct Cleaning Group, we specialise in providing a first-class gutter clearing and gutter cleaning service for commercial properties as well as residential properties, and our friendly staff will be happy to fix up your property for you.
If your property needs gutter cleaning, contact Direct Cleaning Group today to book an appointment.
