Why Clean Your Gutters

Rain Gutters direct water away from your house. Regular cleaning keeps your gutters functioning properly, helping prevent water damage to home's exterior and foundation.

Water Damage

Properly functioning gutters and downspouts direct water away from the structure of your home. Clogged gutters and downspouts may potentially cause water to collect around your foundation and, as a result, get into your basement. The weight of water, twigs and other debris may help loosen gutters and cause them to pull away from their attachments allowing water and debris to spill over the sides this leaves unsightly stains and causes damage to your fascia, soffit as well as the siding or stucco. As it reaches the ground too near your homes foundation this added weight places pressure over long periods of time this pressure will eventually wear down your foundations and it will begin to crack and allow water to leak into your basement.

Ice Dams

Winter in northern Utah it is common occurrence during winter to have freezing temperatures, clogged gutters and or down spouts lead to backed up water that turn into ice dams. An ice dam is when water flows over the edges of a clogged gutter and then freezes, potentially forcing water into your home as it continually builds up slowly flowing backwards and working its way beneath shingles. Once Ice Damming occurs your rain gutters become so over burdened with piled up and over flowing ice cycles that they begin to sag water ice then gets between the gutter and fascia board and begins pushing then away from your home while at the same the excess weight of backed up ice and in no time at all your gutters are torn completely away from your home.

Clogged rain gutters cause many types of issues to your home's interior, exterior and foundation.

Insects and Rodents

Clogged, damp gutters may also an inviting home to house and breed several types of insects and rodents such as carpenter ants, mosquitoes as well as rodents. If these pests begin breeding in your gutters, moving to your homes interior is highly likely before you know it you have a big issue on your hands.

Taking some time to focus on cleaning out your gutters may help keep water out and prevent damage to your home. Proper gutter maintenance can be vital to defending your property from water.

How Often Should You Clean Gutters?

Far West Roofing recommends cleaning your gutters at least twice a year, once in early the spring before the heavy rains and then again in the fall. It is also recommended to periodically check them for debris after a heavy storm that may cause leaves from nearby trees to clog your gutter system.

Snow and Ice

If you have snow on your roof and notice any ice dams, it may be too slippery and dangerous for you to attempt to remove ice dams yourself. If your homes roof is two stories or higher it is recommended that you contact a professional roofing contractor experienced that has the proper safety equipment. It is always a good idea to consult with a professional on the right course of action to protect your homes exterior and follow their recommended schedule for cleaning your rain gutters to assure that they are always keeping water flowing safely away from your home.