Gutters

Gutters…how bad can they be? Do I HAVE to clean them out?

If you let your gutters live their own life, you can expect them to fill up with leaves and seeds, which decompose, attracting bugs, bees, cockroaches, mice, and ants, which attract frogs, snakes, and more, which attract raccoons and squirrels. Then, the raccoons and squirrels like the looks of your attic, so they take up residence. Their good life in your attic leads to babies, and pretty soon, they take over the house.

Gutter guards sound good, but don’t warrant the expense and hassle of installation. There are thousands and thousands of trees, bushes, etc., each producing differing sizes of seeds, pollen, and little things that blow in the wind, just looking to grow somewhere. So why not your gutters? The easiest solution is to just clean out the gutters once or twice a year. They can serve their purpose, which is to drain water away from your house and foundation, not to serve as breeding grounds for a whole ecosystem wanting to live on and in your house.

Water damage results from water spilling over the clogged gutters, down the side of your house, and into the foundation, as well as onto the windows and their surroundings. This results in a weakened foundation, rotted wood, and a compromised structure. Just a little bit of maintenance goes a long way to protect what is probably your largest investment. Don’t let neglect drain away the return on your investment when you come to sell your house.