Why Cleaning Your Gutters Prevents Basement Water Seepage
So many people love the Fall season because it means cooler weather, falling leaves with pretty colors and Pumpkin Spice everything. It is the time of year where raking and bagging leaves becomes a daily chore. It also means, it is time to get up there and clean those gutters, safely of course! You might ask why cleaning your gutters is so important? The answer is because it prevents basement water seepage.
The purpose of gutters is to collect rainwater from your roof and divert it away from the home. A home without gutters would allow rainwater to dump on the ground directly below. You might ask why this is such a big deal. Just a half inch of rain falling on a 1,000 square-foot roof will yield 300 gallons of water! If your gutters are clogged, then that is A LOT of water being poured directly next to your foundation. This can cause massive erosion which allows runoff to flow toward your home instead of away from it. Erosion also causes foundations to settle. Not having properly working gutters poses many dangers to your home such as damaged exteriors, flooding basements and foundation damage.
During the summer months gutters collect twigs and leaves from wind and other elements. When Fall comes and leaves tumble down from the trees they also end up in gutters. With so much debris in a gutter, whose sole purpose is to funnel water, it is not surprising that gutters get clogged obstructing the flow of the water causing overflow.
Gutters should be cleaned twice a year, in the Spring and in the Fall. Homes that are built closer to woodsy areas should clean their gutters more often. Regular maintenance will make your gutters last longer.
Another important thing to keep in mind is safety! It can be dangerous to clean out your own gutters if you do not take the proper safety precautions. Always use a safe and secure ladder, utilize a garden hose to spray debris from the roof top, get a gutter scoop and always let someone know you are cleaning your gutters in case of an accident!
If you do get seepage in your basement or find that lack of gutter cleaning has led to foundation damage don’t fret! There are ways that foundation damage or settling can be repaired and ways to fix that seepage issue! Never wait to contact a professional if you see water or foundation issues in your home. If the problem is left untreated for too long things can get pretty expensive as the problem will continuously get worse. If you have noticed seepage or foundational issues book a free estimate with us today!
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