Telltale Signs that Your Gutters Need Cleaning

Out of Sight, Out of Mind

Unlike your home’s windows, siding or hardscaping, your gutters are not in plain view, so properly maintaining them can often be overlooked as they fall victim to an out-of-sight, out-of-mind mentality. While that may be harmless for certain things, it can be disastrous for the very thing they are designed to protect – your home and property!

Essential – Not Ornamental

Your gutters and downspouts are not simply a finishing touch but rather serve a critical function: to capture rainwater and channel it away from your home and foundation – and to provide protection from …

Water infiltration
Wood rot
Foundation damage
Mold growth
Critter and pest infestation
Landscaping and ground erosion

Without regular maintenance, issues develop and become exacerbated the longer left unaddressed – resulting in the potential for costly repairs and remediation.

We highly recommend having gutter cleaning at least twice per year … and more often if your home is surrounded by trees or you’re in a particularly rainy climate.

The Signs Are Clear

Short of regular cleanings, here’s a list of some key signs that your gutters are in need of – and most likely overdue for – a cleaning …

Water Overflow

Water spilling over the side of your gutters is a clear indicator that debris is clogging the system and impeding the flow, causing the water to become trapped and pool. Such obstructions give rainwater nowhere to go except out and over the sides of your gutters like a waterfall – or even worse, under your roof’s shingles or into the fascia board behind the gutters.

Plant Growth

Plant life sprouting from your gutters is another sure sign that your system is clogged in some way. Dirt is often washed into gutters from roofs during rainstorms, and seeds get blown into the gutter from the wind. An accumulation of dirt and decomposing debris in your gutters can become fertile ground for these seeds to take hold and grow, turning your gutters into a greenhouse and completely preventing them from serving their necessary function.

Sagging Gutters

Given time to accumulate, soggy leaves, sticks, pine needles, shingle granules, and other dirt and debris, as well as standing water from the clogs they create, become too weighty for the gutters to bear. Not designed to carry such a load, the excess stress causes sags or bulges to form, and possible detachments, further impeding flow and proper operation – and leaving you susceptible to damage and deterioration not only to the gutters but to your home’s structure and property’s integrity.

Animals and Pests

Any sign of birds or other animals frequenting your gutter system could be a clue that they are inhabiting your system. Birds, squirrels, possum, mice and other critters will happily allow you to play host as they take up residence in your gutters. The debris build-up makes for a cozy and welcoming place to live and build nests. This is also the perfect environment for mosquito and other insect infestations.

Staining and Mildew

Staining or streaks on your siding can be a sign that water is overflowing from clogged gutters. If it’s spilling over your gutter troughs, it could also be getting behind the siding and setting the stage for wood rot and mold growth.

Long Neglected

If your gutter system has not been inspected and cleaned for some time, this is reason enough to have it addressed immediately so that any existing issues can be properly taken care of before they have a chance to cause further damage or deterioration.

If you’re looking to have your gutters professionally cleaned, our highly experienced, fully insured, and ladder-safety certified crews stand ready to serve! At Clearly Amazing, we’re your convenient single source for a full menu of exterior cleaning, sanitizing, and lighting installation services.

Contact us today to schedule your cleaning or to request a free estimate – and be sure to ask about our Gutter Protection Plans, which put your gutter cleaning on automatic, give you greater peace of mind, and deliver valuable savings!