Clogged Gutters: 6 Ways They Wreak Havoc on Your Home

You take pride in your home—don’t let clogged gutters cause inconvenient and pricey damage. Learn six ways blocked gutters trigger trouble so you can take action before bad weather hits.

1. Clogged gutters can damage foundations.

When a gutter is junked up with leaves and other debris, water backs up and flows over the side. That water goes into the soil around the foundation. If the soil is saturated, water pools around the base of the home, exerting a tremendous amount of pressure on the foundation and increasing the risk for cracks.

2. Clogged gutters increase mold risk.

Whenever clogged gutters allow water to back up into your home, whether it’s in the basement or the attic, there’s an increased risk for unhealthy mold growth. At best, mold removal is time-consuming and inconvenient for homeowners. At worst, it requires costly attention from a professional trained to remove it completely.

3. Clogged gutters can damage the home’s exterior.

Gutters attach to fascia boards on the outside of your home. The weight of a clogged, water-logged gutter can actually pull the fascia board away from the exterior. What’s more, if the boards are made from wood, the water overflow from a clogged gutter can lead to rot.

4. Clogged gutters can lead to leaks during snow melt.

Fall isn’t the only time of year clogged gutters wreak havoc. For example, they prevent melting snow from draining off the roof properly—and that can result in water worming its way into your home’s interior.

5. Clogged gutters create the risk for icy falls.

One of the most important reasons to clean gutters is to protect yourself and those you love. Blocked gutters allow excess water to fall onto sidewalks and driveways, creating a slip-and-fall risk when temps drop below freezing. If you have elderly loved ones or neighbors, check their homes as well to ensure clogged gutters won’t make their sidewalk or driveway a dangerous ice rink this winter.

6. Clogged gutters damage the landscape.

Excess water from blocked gutters falls onto the beds and lawn around your home. Over time, that water saturates the soil and damages plants, trees, and other landscape features. It can also wash away mulch and other ground coverings so they’re less able to protect your plantings.
Inspect and clean gutters at least twice a year to ensure water flows away from your home properly. To learn more about protecting your exterior, see our Fall Roof Maintenance Checklist.

Do you want to reduce or eliminate the need to spend beautiful weekends scooping junk from your gutters? Talk with the Best Contracting team about the convenience of a gutter protection system. Schedule a free roof and gutter inspection in PA, MD, NJ, or DE before winter weather strikes. Ask us about our financing options, too.