Gutters are an essential part of every home, but few home owners truly understand how important it is to keep your gutters clean and free of debris. Taking the time to regularly clean gutters may seem like an unnecessary regular expense, however properly maintaining your gutters can save you a lot of money and heartache in the long run.
Why Homes Need Gutters
We take for granted that all homes have gutters fitted, but have you ever thought about why they are there?
Water can be very damaging to a home. Whether it is the roof structure, walls or even foundations, the entire home can be damaged if it is penetrated by even a small amount of water.
Gutters help to direct water away from areas of the home which can potentially be damaged by water and into storm water or water tank systems.
What Causes Gutter Damage
While gutters plays a vital role in protecting your home, if neglected they can also easily become clogged or damaged and put your home at risk.
Often gutters can be filled with debris, such as leaves and sticks from nearby trees. This makes cleaning and maintenance even more important for those in areas with lots of trees and vegetation.
Gutters can also become damaged in storms, by animals and insects building nests, and from general wear and tear.
How Water Damage Can Affect Your Home
If a gutter becomes blocked or damaged it can prevent the direction of water away from the house. Water may then travel to, pool in, and damage, areas where the water doesn’t belong.
Areas of your home which can be affected by water damage include:
- External Walls and Fascias – water overflowing from blocked gutters can run down walls and fascias leaving water marks and potentially rotting wood or causing mould.
- Roofs and Ceilings – water unable to escape through a gutter can also flow into the roof space, causing damage to the structure and internal ceilings. This can be especially bad if the roof structure begins to rot, or pooled water causes the ceiling to collapse.
- Foundation – just like walls and roofs, the foundation of a home can be damaged by water. Cracks can occur in the foundation as the result of water damage, as well as cause mould to grow throughout your home.
Gutters and Bushfires
Now that we are coming into Australia’s summer months, it is becoming especially important for householders to prepare their homes for bushfire season.
During a bushfire, winds carry burning debris known as ‘embers’ which can start a fire if they land on flammable material. Because of this, the New South Wales Fire Brigade recommends all home owners reduce the amount of flammable material around their homes so there is as little fuel as possible to feed a fire.
The dry leaves and sticks found in gutters are highly flammable and can easily start a fire if ignited by an ember. Because of this it is vitally important to remove all leaves and sticks each year to help reduce the risk of a fire starting on your property – we all know that there are often bushfires on Sydney’s North Shore and greater Sydney areas during summer.
Rainwater Tanks
For homes with water tanks installed, having a clean gutter is even more important.
As rain water is captured by gutters and transported to rain tanks, and, if the proper maintenance is not carried out, debris in the gutter can also end up in the water tank. This not only contaminates the water, but can also damage the tank or water system.
Keeping Your Family Healthy
It’s not just important to have clean gutters for the sake of your home – they can also help your family to be happier and healthier.
When they are blocked and full of debris, they become an ideal breeding ground for a host of insects and animals which can potentially harm your family. Mosquitoes, in particular, breed in areas of pooled water, while a number of other nasties such as cockroaches, spiders, and earwigs love moist areas such as gutters.
Cleaning Your Gutters
To properly protect your home it is so important to have your gutters cleaned on a regular basis. For areas such as Sydney’s North Shore it is especially important as wet winters and hot summers provide the perfect conditions for debris to gather and collect moisture.
Just before bushfire season it is especially important to clear away flammable materials to reduce the risk of fire at your home and to protect your family.
If you are looking for gutter cleaning on the North Shore call JEDI Plumbing on 0411 774 381. Servicing Sydney’s North Shore and Northern Beaches we can be there before the summer bushfire season gets any further under way.