Why Clean the Gutter?

There are many reasons why you should clean your gutter being a very significant part of the drainage system of your house. Debris like fallen leaves, twigs and small dead animals can get into the gutter and cause water blockage. Water blockage can take place in two different areas: (1) the debris might be carried away by the water flowing in the gutter and take them down into the main drainage blocking the drainage and (2) the debris might get stuck in the gutter and water will not be able to flow causing water blockage in the gutter itself. The first situation is often the easier one to handle because the drainage is a singular area, thus the cleaner does not have to clean other places except the drainage itself. The second one is a bit more complicated because in order to conduct a gutter cleaning, the cleaner has to climb up a ladder and clean the entire gutter trough. This is a bit tiresome because the cleaner has to climb up and down the ladder in order to reach the entire span of the gutter. Nonetheless, what remains common for both situations is the fact that gutters should be kept clean or else problems might arise.

The first type of water blockage can cause water to overflow in the drainage area. When this happens, water will fall into a centralized portion in the ground causing water to pool. Eventually this water will seep through the soil and find its way down into the basement and the foundation of the house. This can weaken the structure of the house or provide a good habitat for molds to grow in the basement. The second kind of water blockage can be harmful in two ways. First, if the water trapped in the gutter overflows, it can flow into the ceiling of the house which can damage the wood used in the ceiling. This water can also cause molds to infest the ceiling of the house. Second, if the water in the gutter does not overflow, it will become stagnant and provide very conducive breeding grounds for mosquitoes.