Gutters are that part of the house that we can easily forget about. As we have found out many times, resulting problems can sneak up very quickly. One of the least expected sources of house fires is improperly cleaned or neglected gutters. The buildup of debris in gutters and pipes can ignite in the heat of the summer without warning. Beyond the risk of severe fire, neglected gutters can also pose a significant structural risk to your home. Here are four signs that you need a professional gutter cleaning in Lake Forest and Glenview, IL.
Related: Why You Should Invest In Professional Gutter Cleaning In Buffalo Grove And Winnetka IL
1. Seasonal Buildup
The easiest way to tell whether you need professional gutter cleaning or not is whether your home is situated under a tree. Both deciduous and evergreen trees shed their leaves and needles at various points throughout the year. The leaf and needle debris that falls can clog your gutters and drain pipes.
This becomes especially important during the autumn when large amounts of leaf debris can get stuck. Rain and snow make the leaves wet and this sodden mass quickly begins rotting. The mass then freezes during the winter. During the spring, the snow thaws and the mass continues to rot and compress. As normal windblown debris is added on top, the mass becomes tougher and tougher.
Several years of accumulation can completely fill the gutters, rendering them completely useless. All of these can be avoided if the gutters are properly cleaned at least once each year.
2. Stains on the Siding
A great visual cue to see if you need professional gutter cleaning is whether there are water stains on the siding of your home beneath the gutters. This may be an indication of dirty water that was pooling over the side of the gutters instead of going down the drain as intended. This can have long-term consequences for the siding of your home as well as the foundation, so it’s best to attack the problem quickly.
3. Slow Dripping from the Drain Pipes
As you take a walk around your home to inspect your gutters, look at the ground beneath the drain pipes. Is there any excess plant growth in that spot? Is there any pooling of water? Are the plants drowned or damaged? This could be an indication of blocked pipes as the plants are in effect receiving drip irrigation from slow-draining pipes. Typical rainfall and runoff move quickly to the intended drain-off spot before the ground can absorb the water.
4. Visibly Damaged Gutters
Properly maintained gutters and pipes should appear clean and minimalist, trying their best to blend into the side of the house. Those that are sagging or pulling away from the roof are indicative of some heavy debris sitting inside. Not only will this present a fire hazard or potential damage to the house, but gutters that are pulling away from the roof can also suddenly collapse, with dire consequences.
Take A Walk Around
As you can see, most of these gutter and drain problems can be successfully identified visually. It’s best to do routine checks on your gutters simply by taking a slow walk around the house. It’s even better if you can take pictures from the same angle to see if anything changes over time. If you see any of these signs, make sure to call your professional gutter cleaning service before things go from bad to worse.
Related: The Unfortunate Consequences Of Neglecting Gutter Cleaning In Lake Forest And Highland Park IL Areas
