Why Gutter Cleaning Before Winter is So Important
If you’re like many homeowners, the thought of getting up on a ladder and cleaning out every inch of your gutters this fall makes you want to do just about anything else. While it may not be the most fun thing that you could put on your home maintenance list this season, it’s actually a really critical part of preparing your home for winter.
The Function of Gutters
Your Billings roofing relies on gutters to collect and channel water away from your home and out to a safe distance in your yard. When they are clogged or the series of interconnected gutter sections are falling apart or pulling away from the house, it can quickly cause problems.
Ice Dams
One of the biggest dangers to your Billings roofing when gutters are clogged is the formation of ice dams. You can see them in the form of icicles hanging from the house, and while that might evoke a beautiful winter scene, keep in mind that the buildup of ice along the edge of your roof is keeping standing water on the shingles, which can lead to leaks and other problems if left too long. Cleaning out gutters helps melting water flow away from the roof and out into the yard.
Basement Flooding
When gutters are clogged, the water that should be flowing toward downspouts instead flows over the edge of the gutter, where it collects in the area right around your home. Since the roof doesn’t hang far over your house, that means the water is pooling around your home’s foundation, where it can leak through and cause basement or crawl space flooding, as well as damage to the foundation itself. Both are costly and frustrating situations.
Landscape Damage
Finally, when gutters are filled with debris, the water cannot be properly channeled to areas where it will not cause harm. Usually this results in excess water overflowing in areas of your yard that you did not expect, where it can wash out flowerbeds, gardens, and other parts of your landscaping.
To avoid these problems, make sure you get your gutters in Billings cleaned before the winter comes. If you’re not crazy about the idea of doing it yourself, there is always the option to call a gutter cleaning contractor to help.
