When was the last time you checked your gutters?
All it takes is a little time and effort just one or two times a year to make sure your gutters are fully functional and rain water has a clear passage to flow away from your house. To make sure they’re doing their job properly, grab your umbrella and go outside when it’s raining to check everything is in order. It is important to look out for overflowing gutters, down-pipes and any obvious damp patches on the outside walls.
Gutter cleaning and maintenance is often a subject that is overlooked. However, keeping your gutters clean and clear is really important to prevent water damage, leaks, and damp and mould in the house. This could all be prevented if we were all aware of the importance of proper gutter cleaning and maintenance and how to go about it.
Blocked Gutters and Downpipes – The Main Causes
Damaged or blocked gutters can be caused by a number of things. Winter is the best month in which to carry out an inspection of your gutters, as there will most likely be many leaves in them from the autumn. Overhanging trees in yours or the neighbouring gardens are the main culprit in many gutter blockages. Other things include moss – which has no chance of being washed away like the leaves may – and even things like those shuttlecocks or tennis balls that mysteriously disappear!
Moss can grow on the roof of your house and in your gutters. Unfortunately, it doesn’t budge once it has grown unless something really interferes with it, and so won’t simply get washed away by the rain water. A complication such as this can cause a pile-up of leaves and other things and therefore cause a complete blockage in your guttering.
Gutters can be made from either plastic or metal. There are things you can do avoid to make sure that you don’t damage your gutters. For example, do not lean a ladder on the gutters, this is a common factor that causes damage and shortens their lifespan. Cracking and distorting can occur and, as a consequence, your gutters will not be up to their job of keeping your house and landscape maintenance safe and hassle-free.
Dampness inside a property can lead to serious health issues
Damp and mould in your house is a sizable problem and can be caused by broken or blocked gutters. This could cause some serious health issues for your family, so neglecting to recognise the importance of gutter cleaning and regular maintenance is not worth the risks.
Gutter Cleaning and Maintenance - Prevention is better than cure
It’s the obvious choice to prevent a problem before it arises rather than waiting for it to occur and then deciding on the necessary action. If you leave it too late, the damage will have become worse and you’ll end up spending unnecessary time and money on repairs and therefore it is always better to deal with any problems as soon as the happen.
Gutter Cleaning and Maintenance – DIY or a job for the professionals?
As you will appreciate all effective gutter cleaning and maintenance requires the ability to climb and work at the roof line of the property and without training and the proper equipment this can be dangerous activity even for the most competent DIYer. And for this reason alone, it is always best to consult with a professional gutter cleaning services company like Blue Light Exterior Cleaning who can advise and offer you the best course of action to take.
At Blue Light Exterior Cleaning, we use the latest gutter cleaning technology which uses a high-powered vacuum to remove debris, leaves and moss. We also use a digital camera to ensure that the gutters have been cleared effectively. Therefore, Blue Light Exterior Cleaning will offer the most economical solution as the team will repair/replace any defective gutters, down-pipes and brackets as well as safely removing all debris, leaves and moss and will ensure that the water is flowing correctly.
So the next time it rains, grab your umbrella and take five minutes to check those all-important gutters and down-pipes. And if you need any further help then contact the team at Blue Light Exterior Cleaning.