Autumn has come around again. The days are shorter and colder and the trees are changing. While the Autumn landscape is a beautiful sight, leaf litter can cause havoc on your home. Follow these steps on how to get on top of your leaf litter so your home can survive the Winter.
Don’t Regret. Regularly Inspect.
The most common problems that prevent your gutters from doing their job include:
- Gutters or downpipes become blocked with debris and leaf litter.
- Gutters or downpipes are damaged or cracked. This damage can be caused by storm damage, tree damage, ladders, or maintenance neglect.
- Incorrect installation of guttering systems. This impacts water flow speed and direction.
Blocked and damaged gutters will lead to costly damage to your home.
Your gutters perform a simple yet crucial role in protecting the structural integrity of your home. Blocked gutters filled with debris and leaf litter prevent rainwater from flowing to your downpipes and into the storm water or your water tank. This causes your gutters to fill with water and overflow. Water is destructive and the damage can be very expensive to repair.
Likely damage to your home can include:
- Without a route of escape, an overflow of water is likely to splash back on to your roof and may start to seep through your roof tiles. Left too long this could result into a roof leak or worse your ceiling caving in.
- Water may pool around the outside of your home, which can impact your soil. External water pooling can lead to foundation damage and movement.
- Minor leaks in your gutters and downpipes can cause water stains, rust, bubbling paintwork or timber rot. Behind the scenes, water leaks create dampness and mould. Left unattended, small leaks can lead to major water damage.
This type of damage is complex and expensive to repair, but it is easy to prevent with a regular gutter clean.
Regular gutter maintenance reduces risk to your family’s health.
You may think a minor leak from your gutters or downpipes is nothing to be concerned about. It may not concern you because you only notice the leak or overflow during or after a downpour. Think again.
Excess moisture can lead to mould growth and bacterial growth within a short period of time. Your blocked gutters, roof and space under the house can create a dark, damp space for this bacteria and mould to flourish. For those who suffer from respiratory problems or allergies, this can trigger illness.
Stagnant water attracts unwanted pests such as rodents, mosquitoes and cockroaches. Such pests thrive in damp environments. Their waste material is also a known trigger for respiratory complaints. If you have installed a water catchment system, decomposing matter will impact the quality of your tank water and may also pose a serious health risk.
By keeping your water drainage system in good condition, you’re doing your home, wallet, and health a favour.
Now is the time to clean your gutters.
Hopefully by now your convinced that cleaning your gutters prior to winter is something you need to tick off your list. But let’s face it, gutter cleaning is not the most desirable job. It’s also not the best way to spend your weekend. So, contact us at Grey Army and we can get a professional to help you out.