What’s the worst that could happen if you occasionally forget to clean your gutters? Well, a clogged gutter system can cause quite a few problems, especially in fall and winter.
Potential roofing issues that could arise include:
Roof and Gutter Leaks
Gutters form part of your roof’s first line of defense against moisture damage. They divert rainwater away from your roof and towards the drains to make sure water doesn’t infiltrate your roof or your home’s interior. Since trees start to shed their leaves in fall, you’ll need to clean your gutters more frequently during this season.
If leaves and other kinds of debris accumulate and clog your gutters, rainwater might overflow and spill onto your roof and exterior, causing leaks. The added weight load from accumulated debris can also cause sections of your gutter system to pull apart at the seams, creating gutter leaks.
Sagging Gutters
If leaks don’t form, the fasteners supporting your gutter system might buckle under the added weight load, causing some of your gutters to sag.
Ice Dams
As part of the freeze-thaw cycle, snow that lands on your roof will melt and trickle down to your gutters. If the gutters are clogged, water overflows and freezes just as it goes over the edge of your gutter system, forming icicles and eventually thicker ice dams. The icicles forming near the edge of your gutters add extra weight load to your gutters and might cause sections to sag.
Your gutter’s maintenance needs increase in fall and winter, which is why you need to clean your gutter system more frequently. If you just don’t have the time for gutter maintenance, consider installing gutter guards. Gutter guards prevent leaves and other debris from entering and clogging your gutters, reducing your gutter’s maintenance needs.
Gutter Helmet® of Minnesota offers professional gutter installation services as well as premium gutter guards. To get a free quote, call us at (800) 824-3772 or fill out this form. We serve homeowners in Monticello, MN, as well as the surrounding communities.
