Gutters. They are out of sight, and out of mind. Unlike major aesthetic parts of your home – a large outdoor fire pit, for example – gutters are a part of the house that most people don’t spend much time thinking about or looking at.
The problem is that, much like a healthy heart, things that you can’t see or just don’t look at still need to be maintained so that they can keep functioning. According to the Insurance Information Institute, ice, snow and wind can have devastating consequences and millions of dollars in insured losses are due to frozen gutters. San Jose (and the rest of Santa Clara County) is not exempt from damage to landscapes or structures from clogged gutters!
The long and short of it is – gutters need to heave a clear path in order for rain and snow to work their way through the system, and fallen leaves and other debris can cause substantial blockage in that system.
Let’s take a closer look at all the reasons rain gutters can be a threat to your home’s well-being.
1. Avoid unnecessary damages and costs
The first and most obvious issue with gutters filled with leaves, sticks, twigs, and other debris is simply a weight problem. When the debris gets wet, it absorbs the rain water like a sponge and becomes extremely heavy. This burden puts stress on the gutters and their hanging brackets, and can pull the gutters off the house. Gutters are costly enough to replace, not to mention any windows and landscaping they smash as they come crashing down.
Overflowing water from the gutters can also damage the paint and siding on a home, and create water marks down the side of the house. That pales in comparison with when the water get inside of a wall. Wet wood rots and loses its integrity, and this can go unseen behind the siding. Let’s not forget mold and mildew! Ew!
Consumer Reports says, “Check the entire gutter system seasonally for proper pitch and for clogs, corrosion, broken fasteners, and separation between connections and where gutters meet the fascia board,” the group advises.
2. Eliminate pests
Clogged gutters = standing water. Standing water = an unlimited invite to unwanted pests – such as mosquitos. Mosquitos love to use standing water as places to lay their eggs. Which can lead to bigger problems we face today: West Nile Virus and Zika Virus. The Centers for Disease control recommends that homeowners make sure to clean out their rain gutters to help prevent spread of disease. Even here in San Jose, we need to be diligent.
3. Water Conservation is STILL important, and your gutters play a part
Sometimes fall weather is still hot, and when our San Jose community may be looking at parched creek beds and brown or nonexistent grass, it’s easy to think rain gutters are not important right now. But this is actually the perfect time to inspect and clean them, or even better, have it done professionally.
Don’t fall for the “it’s bone dry” line of thinking – get ahead of the weather and save yourself a huge amount of time, money, and effort when those gutters are needed. If you are ever in doubt or need a hand on your property to help maintain the landscape, never hesitate to contact Bayscape Landscape Management! We service San Jose and surrounding cities!