Colourful Autumn leaves in your gutters and on your roof, as a homeowner, you may have a long list of things to do before winter creeps in, gutters probably isn’t one of them.
However, cleaning your gutters to remove leaves, sticks, and various other types of debris should be a top priority on your autumnal checklist (if it isn’t already).
Keeping leaves out of gutters is crucial for protecting the structure of your home and preventing (sometimes) costly inconveniences in the future.
Cleaning your gutters might not feature high on your list of home maintenance and home improvement priorities, but regular upkeep is essential for protecting your property.
Gutters are designed to collect and guide rainwater off the roof, down into the drain and away from the building, thus preventing potential structural damage.
Clogged or damaged gutters can result in expensive repairs so, although they are out of sight, they should never be out of mind!
This can be a combination of leaves, moss, twigs, and other debris that can build up over time. Leaves get blown onto the roof, and travel down to the gutters. When wet, leaves can stick to gutter walls and floors, eventually the flow of rainwater becomes blocked in the corners and downpipes.
Over time leaves will breakdown turning into a fertile compost, the perfect breeding ground for seeds, moss, and weeds that have been blown onto the roof or dropped by birds. If left unchecked, these invasive weeds can overtake your guttering and downpipes, blocking the natural flow of water, plugging the downpipe leading to rainwater build-up, and possible overflow.
It is critical that gutters are in good health for the winter, to ensure water is free flowing to prevent damage by snow and ice build-up, hence why gutter cleaning becomes a necessity rather than an option.
Being part of the water loving algae family, moss (and lichen) thrives in shady, damp environments. So, properties that are north-facing or surrounded by overhanging trees, tend to receive less daylight, which prevents the roof from fully drying out. Over time, moss starts to grow in damp areas.
Have you ever wondered why moss tends to form at the edges of roof tiles? Well, as rainwater flows over the roof tiles, water cohesion, or the sticky quality, that enables waters droplets to form on your windows, causes it to cling to overlapping roof tile edges. This trapped water, unless dried out, creates a damp haven, perfect for moss formation. Where tiles are chipped, cracked, or damaged, water can permeate the surface, creating ideal conditions for moss growth.
Moss acts like a sponge, retaining water and preventing your roof from drying out. If left unchecked, damp can permeate the tiles and roof, causing damage to your property.
This is especially true during the winter months, where ice can form in moisture trapped against the tiles or masonry. When water freezes, it expands, potentially causing tiles to raise, chip or crack, leaving it vulnerable to the elements.
As a haven for insects, moss also attracts birds, who feed on and dislodge the moss, sending it tumbling into the gutters, causing potential blockages.
In short, yes it can lead to costly property damage if they are not dealt with promptly.
Rainwater damage can lead to issues such as rotting fascia boards, water damage to walls, windows, ceilings, insulation, and even foundation damage.
If left unchecked, water can permeate through to the internal walls, causing damp and mould spores.
Regardless of whether you have cast iron, pressed steel, or plastic gutters, it is essential that these are maintained and regularly checked, to ensure water is free-flowing and clear of debris.
For a quick visual, next time it rains, get an umbrella, and give your gutters a visual health check.
Are they overflowing, leaking, or sagging, or is there water running down the side of the building?
Any of these factors could indicate an issue with clogged gutters.
If you must clear your garden or driveway of fallen leaves in the autumn, then it would be advisable to consider a visual health check.
For ultimate peace of mind, contact your local exterior cleaning professional, who will be able to check and help prevent expensive repairs.
It is advisable to consult an external cleaning service provider to help protect your home.
Innovative gutter clearing vacuums make professional gutter clearing a breeze.
No need for ladders or loads safety gear, a single operator can easily and effectively clean up to four stories high, and all from the safety of the ground.
So, whether your property has difficult to reach gutters, such as above a conservatory or a garage, the gutter vacuum system features a powerful wet and dry vacuum system, along with extremely lightweight and robust carbon fibre telescopic poles that make light work, of hard to access gutters.
This depends very much on your property’s surroundings, weather factors, and age of the building.
If your property is surrounded by overhanging trees, especially pine trees, or with moss growth, should be checked frequently, especially after bad weather, to ensure gutters are free from fallen debris.
Ideally, properties should be checked in the autumn, after the leaves have fallen, to ensure they are in perfect condition and free flowing ready for when the heavy rains, snow, and ice that winter brings.
When spring arrives, it is worth having them checked again, just to ensure that they have not been damaged during the winter and that any residual biodegraded leaves and moss, have been removed to prevent the growth of grass or weeds.