Think cleaning your gutters is unnecessary? While they might seem like an insignificant part of your home – and an often forgotten one – they actually have a huge impact on your house if they’re not maintained properly. So instead of avoiding the tedious task of cleaning your gutters every spring and late fall, tackle it head-on to avoid these potential disasters.

1) Damaged Foundations

If your gutters are clogged and you experience a rainstorm, the rainwater doesn’t have a single stream to go down. This causes it to build up around the base of the home and absorb into the ground. With large amounts of water, this can exert pressure against your home’s foundation, causing it to crack over time. Once the cracks start to appear, the water has a place to go – directly into your basement, causing expensive damage. At its worst, this can even cause your foundation to collapse.

2) Mould

There’s a reason your gutters lead water away from your home. Some parts are not designed to deal with such high levels of moisture, especially things like trim, windowsills and door jambs. When the water causes these things to rot, they allow more water behind walls and under flooring, leading to mould and mildew. Mould is unsightly, smelly and often dangerous to your health.

3) Infestations

There are a number of insects that thrive and breed in stagnant water – the most annoying of which is the mosquito. Mosquito eggs can hatch in as little as one tablespoon of water, so imagine how many eggs could hatch in a clogged gutter. The damp and decaying environment that forms in a clogged gutter also attracts carpenter ants, termites and other pests that could destroy the wood in your home.

Need more maintenance tips from Bryan’s Fuel in Orangeville? Check out our home maintenance checklists for fall, winter, spring and summer.