Cleaning out your gutters is an unpleasant but necessary task – in both the summer and winter. While many of us avoid doing it because we can’t be bothered climbing up a ladder or we simply don’t know how, many dangerous outcomes can happen from ignoring this seasonal must-do. There’s no excuse for ignoring this task when you can easily hire a pro to take care of it for you in an afternoon. Learn why you should book an appointment now or risk these six dangers of not cleaning your gutters.
1. Roof Damage
Not cleaning your gutters can seriously impact your home from top to bottom. When your gutters are full of debris, rainwater cannot drain and begins to collect. Any shingles that come in contact with water will deteriorate faster than the rest of your roof. Left untreated, these shingles will continue to absorb water until they are saturated and the roof deck becomes damaged. This will cause water to seep into your home through your saturated roof. Eventually, your insulation will be soaked through and you will end up with water damage on your ceiling. To avoid damage to your ceiling, insulation, shingles and roof, be sure to have a pro clean your gutters annually.
2. Weakened Foundation
The main purpose of gutters is to divert water away from your home. When your gutters are clogged, they cannot properly do their job. This can result in overflowing gutters and excess water dripping down to your home’s foundation. Water can cause the soil under your foundation to shift and crack. If water gets into these cracks and then freezes, this can result in cracks in your foundation. When this happens, your home is literally on shaky ground. In extreme cases, water damage can actually cause structural failure in a house. To prevent this damage to your foundation, take the time to schedule an appointment and have your gutters cleaned by a pro.
3. Ruined Landscaping
A rainstorm can be a good thing for your plants, but heavy rain combined with clogged gutters can have disastrous effects on your landscaping. When there’s nowhere for the rain to go, your gutters will overflow and the excess water will seep into your landscape. This excess water can wash away mulch, topsoil and sand, and even kill flowers, shrubs and trees. If you want to save your landscape, be sure to have your gutters cleaned annually.
4. Basement Flooding
You may be starting to notice a theme here. When there’s nowhere for your gutter water to go, your basement is an excellent option. The longer you leave your gutters clogged and dirty, the more water can pool around your home’s foundation. As the water overflows and runs down the side of your home, it will eventually leak into your basement walls. When this happens it can cause mold to grow, unpleasant smells, water damage and eventually flooding. If your basement isn’t waterproofed, this can cause serious damage to your home. Avoid having to deal with a flooded basement all because there were too many leaves clogging up your gutters.
5. Unwanted Pests
Dirty gutters full of leaves, debris and standing water looks like a buffet to certain pests. Animals like birds, mice, squirrels, termites and mosquitoes will flock to your home to feast. As the weather begins to cool down, these pests can make their way into your home through cracks in your roof or foundation. With an abundant food source right outside, there’s no reason for them to leave. Instead of having to call an exterminator multiple times, save yourself the hassle and have your gutters cleaned annually.
6. Ice Build Up
If you leave standing water in your gutters for long enough, it will eventually freeze. The added weight of the ice can cause your gutters to become heavy and actually pull away from your home. When this happens, cracks are created and snow, water and ice can all seep into your home. The excess weight on your gutters will also damage your soffits and fascia and can cause your gutters to sag as they become looser from your home. If left for long enough, your gutters could fall off of your home in places. Take the time now to schedule a gutter cleaning with a specialist so you don’t have to book an entire gutter replacement appointment.
Below are the average costs of Gutters & Eavestroughs services across different cities in Canada:
| City | Average | Minimum | Maximum |
| Barrie | $4,765 | $100 | $30,000 |
| Calgary | $2,981 | $100 | $40,000 |
| Edmonton | $7,713 | $100 | $46,500 |
| Hamilton | $6,236 | $100 | $35,000 |
| Oshawa | $2,708 | $150 | $14,000 |
| Ottawa | $3,517 | $100 | $50,000 |
| Toronto | $5,733 | $100 | $50,000 |
| Vancouver | $4,516 | $100 | $50,000 |
By ignoring this one simple task you’re opening your home up to several dangers. Water can be a very destructive force, especially when not dealt with properly. This is why it’s so important to ensure your gutters are in proper working order so they can do their job: divert water away from your home. If it’s been a while since you had your gutters cleaned, don’t hesitate to book an appointment with a pro today. You’ll be happy you did come the next big rain storm.
