Are your gutters not draining properly? Do you notice after a rainstorm that there’s standing water in your gutters?
At Alamance Insulation and Gutters, we’ve got all your insulation and gutter needs covered. Serving areas in central North Carolina such as Greensboro, Burlington, Mebane, Hillsborough, and High Point, we provide excellent services and products to our loyal customers. One service we offer is cleaning your gutters. Many customers ask why they need to clean their gutters at least once before winter and once before spring. Read more to find out why!
Clean, clear gutters protect your home’s exterior walls, foundation, glass, and roof from water damage, while clogged gutters risk wood rot, concrete damage, mold, mildew, algae, and insect infestation around the home.
Storm debris and other buildup is the primary reason for gutters not draining, while undersized or damaged gutters might allow rainwater to wash over their sides or back up onto the roof. Improper gutter installation also leads to standing water that doesn’t drain.
Clean gutters are more important than many homeowners realize, but keeping them clean is probably everyone’s least favorite home maintenance chore! To better understand why you need to ensure your home’s gutters are always clog-free, note some tips on addressing gutters that aren’t draining and how to keep them clean. Discuss any questions you have with a gutter cleaning power washer near you as needed, so your home is always in good condition from top to bottom!
Take a closer look at how gutters end up with layers of storm debris and other “gunk” that creates clogs and that doesn’t allow those gutters to drain as they should, so you can determine why your home’s gutters are prone to clogging and overflowing.
- Larger debris such as twigs and leaves might not empty into attached downspout openings; as they sit in the gutters, that debris then builds up, keeping water from draining to the downspouts.
- Since storm debris is a main cause of clogged gutters, note that overgrown tree branches can increase the risk of clogs! Branches dropping leaves, sap, moss, seeds, twigs, needles, and other debris often mean clogged gutters and eventual water damage along a home’s exterior.
- Airborne dirt, dust, and other debris settle into gutters and then harden. If it doesn’t rain enough to soften that dirt and mud so that it washes down the downspouts, gutters clog and refuse to drain as they should.
- Even if layers of dirt and storm debris don’t block downspout openings, if those layers are too thick, rainwater will simply wash over gutter sides rather than draining to the downspouts.
- Undersized gutters might not easily manage rainfall levels in your area! If too much rain falls for those gutters to manage, it will simply wash over those gutter sides.
- Gutters should be installed at a slight angle, to encourage water to run to connected downspouts. Improper installation can mean standing water and dirt buildup along with it, which then clogs gutters.
- Downspouts can also get clogged with dried dirt and mud, storm debris, and the like, allowing water to back up and stay in the gutters.
If you have questions about cleaning or maintaining your gutters, or if you’d rather let professionals handle this task, contact Alamance Insulation and Gutters. We are happy to help!