As the last leaves of autumn flutter to the ground and the air takes on a chilly edge, homeowners face a critical task in preparing their homes for the winter months: So some of the tasks include cleaning the eavestroughs. Otherwise referred to as gutters, eavestrough is an important component of any house that needs to be checked and addressed promptly when there is an issue as it is responsible for providing structural support and protection to the house. Considering the importance of this simple maintenance step, people often forget about it and face several troubles which are unwanted, but sometimes quite pricey. This blog will discuss the facts and nice reasons why it is necessary to clear your eavestroughs at the right time during a given season, especially before the winter season begins and how the process can be done efficiently.
Eavestroughs are sometimes referred to as gargoyles; the primary function of which involves preventing water damage to your home. They are a critical part of your home’s roofing mechanism which helps in draining water such as rainwater or melted snow off the roof and away from the foundation. While eavestroughs may not seem as essential as other home installations, this system of channels which redirects water from a house’s gutters down to the downspouts plays a crucial role in preventing a variety of hazards, including water seepage, crumbling of the foundation as well as flooding in the basement.
Water Damage Prevention
Eavestroughs serve the main purpose of providing control of water from the roof since it can only be controlled through rainfall or melting of snow. When eaves roughing is not working, water can simply flow down the side of the roof and create issues. This unchecked water flow can lead to several problems:
As observed water constantly threatens to weaken the roofing materials which is evidenced by several hurricanes leading to the formation of leaks and structures. The water can penetrate through the roof deck which also results in a musty rotten and very weak roof structure.
In one way or another, water falling on the sides of the house can harm the material of the siding and lead to paint chalking and wood decay. This, in due time, will negatively affect the structural integrity of a building and could necessitate very expensive repairs.
Mold and excess water also affect window and door frames and as a result, they may expand, bend or even rot. This not only alters their performance but also their adeptness at offering a complete secondary seal to the surroundings.
Landscaping and Soil Stability
Eavestroughs also keep water away and regulate the surface area around your dwelling to prevent soil erosion. Water that spills over clogged eavestroughs can cause:
Excess water can erode the soil and the general surrounding terrain and this can easily affect the edging around your home such as garden circles. Rainwater can harm plants as well as trees and any region with a lot of water accumulation would experience root rot and various other water-related problems. Water management means that your landscaped area gets just the right amount of water needed and not more of it that would finally drain away.
One may not realize that eavestroughs need profound maintenance to enable them to serve the most important role of preventing water damage to a particular home. It includes the removal of debris and prevents clogs to guarantee free water flow to your house to liberate it from a variety of problems related to poor management of the same.
Regardless of the climate conditions of the geographical area you inhabit, eavestrough maintenance is very important and this is the reason why you should not neglect it.
Ice Dams and Roof Damage
When eavestroughs are clogged, water cannot freely flow and that accumulates on the roof turns into ice dams. Without proper circulation of air, the water often accumulates in standing pools during the winter and may freeze to form ice dams. An ice dam is essentially an accumulation of ice on the roof and at the eaves especially at the intersection of the roof and a vertical surface such as a wall. By being trapped, water finds its way under shingles resulting in roofing compromises, and the formation of leaks. Ice dams to a roof cost property owners a bundle in terms of repairing the roof as well as replacement cost and the subsequent potential of water damage on the inside of a home. Some eavestrough issues that may cause problems:
Around your home foundations
If eavestroughs are blocked that means the eavestroughs will overflow and water will begin to pile up around your home’s foundation. Most of the time, it can weaken the structure significantly and in very bad cases it can lead to structural failure. This becomes a big problem during the winter months because any water that seeps into a crack will freeze during the night and expand in the process further enlarging the crack.
Basement Flooding
This is an indication that the eavestrough system is blocked since it will contribute towards basement flooding. If the water is not properly channeled to drain away from the house it can pool on the sides of the foundation and this can lead to seepage in the basement. This could lead to waking up to find basements flooded, dampness in the walls, floors and other stored items and sometimes leads to mold formation, which is dangerous to health.
Destructive to the landscaping of your building
If the eavestroughs are overflowing they could cause damage to the landscaping of your building. Waters dripping down the sides of your house can cause exponential erosion of soil around the area, spoil the outlook of plants, as well as create freighting gulley’s. It not only concerns the exterior looks of your property, but it also may lead to the weakening of the construction of paths and roadways. Cleaning eavestroughs before winter is an excellent practice for several reasons:
It is important to avoid expensive repairs
Cleaning your eavestroughs from time to time is one of the most effective ways of preventing future costly repairs. When water is well channeled away from your home, expenses like sealing the roof, structural damage on the walls, and water damage in the basement will not be a concern.
For instance, clean eavestroughs help to prolong the life of the roof and the eavestrough system since water is directed back into the former while debris is prevented from accumulating there. By curbing ice dams and water which rests on the roofing material, one is sure to minimize the risks of damage to the shingles, roofing material and eavestroughs. This means in the long run fewer replacements and repairs are needed to be made on the current stock of materials.
Proper Eavestrough Functionality Curb Appearance
This blog explains that eavestroughs give a good appearance to the house. Clean and well-maintained eavestroughs and downspouts are an extension of the design and outlook of your home while water damage and soil erosion are a blot on your home. In addition, general care gives your home a welcoming appearance, which is appropriate for any client or visitor.
Gutter maintenance is one of the essential home chores that the homeowner should not ignore as they helps in preventing accumulation of ice buildup during the winter period. In simpler terms, without removing debris from your eavestroughs, your home is at risk for ice dams or leaks in the roof, cracked roof and gutters, foundation problems, water in the basement or crawlspace, and worn down landscape around your home. This is the reason why it is advisable to dedicate a few hours now and then to cleaning the eavestroughs, rather than wait for them to produce a problem during the cold winter season and spend a lot of money on their repair.