What Happens if You Don’t Clean Your Gutters?

Regularly cleaning your gutters is essential for the proper functioning of your gutter system. You should clean gutters at least twice per year, or more if they are near trees and other sources of debris. Clogged gutters simply do not work, which will present several dangers to a structure, whether that is your home, a commercial building, a garden room or any other type of building. 

Gutters control the flow of rainwater and discharge it evenly. A smooth-flowing, clean and clog-free system is essential for moving the flow of water away from the following areas:

• Walls
• Roofs
• Building foundations
• The interior of a building

As leading providers of a range of gutter cleaning and drainage services, we are well-placed to provide insights on the consequences of not cleaning your gutters. Water damage is a big issue for all sorts of reasons, and it can be very costly to fix or even irreversible in some cases.

To avoid all of these for your gutters in Sussex, simply get in touch for a free quote on gutter cleaning or repair today to take advantage of our low-price guarantee and incredible expertise.

Why Should I Clean My Gutters? Dangers & Damage Risks

When you clean your gutters you get a better flowing drainage system, so any rainfall that hits the building will be distributed in a balanced way. Aside from the fundamental problem of ineffective drainage, not cleaning your gutters comes with some inherent risks and dangers.

Reasons you should clean your gutters, or what might happen if you fail to do so, include the following:

• Gutter damage: Blocked gutters might become heavy with debris such as moss or leaves, which means there is a great strain on the gutter itself. Combine this with the weight of rainfall and gutters can fall off due to pressure, causing uncontrolled water runoff and even potential injury. Metal gutters can be extremely heavy indeed!
  
• Roof damage: Drainage is important for reducing the strain on a roof, which is especially true for flat roofs. Water weight from poor drainage can build up, potentially weakening the structure and penetrating the waterproof membrane and other key areas. Ultimately, leaks and potential roof collapse can occur because of this problem.
  
• Leaks indoors: When water builds up it can get into the walls and cause a leak inside the building. The water level in the gutter can get so high that it spills over the sides, which means that it will run down the wall, and tight seals can even pool up against the pitched angle of a roof – for a double whammy of roof and wall damage at once!
  
• Wall cracks: Pooling water will eventually cause cracks in brick, concrete or other wall materials, which will undermine the structural integrity of the wall and make it much more likely for cracks to form. This erosion will result in a permanent hole in the wall and any recurring problems will be much more of an issue without patching repairs.
  
• Drain blockage: Moss, leaves, dirt and other small bits of debris can often go through the downpipe to the drain and stop it from draining effectively. This is a potentially disastrous issue that can cause flooding and stagnant water pooling at the base of your gutters, which will be difficult to manage during heavy rainfall or wet weather.
  
• Pests problems: Any type of pooling water is a magnet for various types of insects, particularly in warmer weather. As a result, you might find that mosquitoes, daddy long-legs, mayflies and other insects are breeding there, which is very unpleasant! You could even end up needing pest control alongside your gutter cleaning in this case.
  
• Foundation damage: All of the water that does not drain away correctly will end up in one place, around the edges of the building. As a result, you will open the building up to foundation damage from the moisture. Water penetrates even small cracks and will become a huge issue in winter when it freezes and puts severe stress on a foundation.

Although finding one of these problems is annoying, expensive to fix and potentially hazardous to a structure, cleaning a gutter regularly will dramatically reduce the likelihood of these issues occurring. You should clean your gutters if you want to make sure you avoid the above issues.

Is Gutter Cleaning Worth It? Professional & DIY Options

For most people cleaning a gutter is a no-brainer as it helps to avoid all of the issues mentioned above, so it is certainly worth doing. You can do it yourself, which is advisable every year in the spring and autumn or more frequently if you have an at-risk gutter such as a gutter near a tree.

Professional gutter cleaning is an option you can invest in too, which may provide a better outcome. Many people find our professional gutter cleaning beneficial for the following reasons:

• Save time and energy
• Get access to professional-grade tools
• Make use of trade experience
• Gutter cleaners can spot issues before they become a problem
• Extend the lifespan of your gutter system

If you are worried about your gutters then a professional gutter cleaning service can also provide greater peace of mind. For example, our team is fully insured and has accreditation from various trade organisations – so you can be sure you are getting an excellent, industry-backed service.

What Happens if You Don’t Clean Your Gutters Explained

If you do not clean your gutters they will not work as well, which can result in all sorts of hazards and structural problems in a building – from the roof to the foundations. As a result, regular gutter cleaning is well worth doing and even essential for effective building maintenance.

We are providers of a range of drainage and guttering services in the south coast area, so we are a good source of information on what can happen if you do not clean your gutters. If you would like to use our gutter cleaning services, please feel free to get in touch for a free quote.