Eavestrough and Gutters are important parts of your home because they prevent water damage to the building’s foundation. If clogged, gutters can lead to cracked walls and ceilings, damp basements or crawl spaces, flooded backyards or garages, and expensive repairs such as rotted trim boards. You need to know what kind of damage can clogged gutters cause so you can prevent your home from any damages. Here are 5 signs of Clogged Gutters.
1. Water Stains on Ceilings
One of the first signs of clogged gutters is water stains on ceilings below the affected gutter. Commonly, homeowners notice these stains because they are near doors or windows that lead into their basement or onto an upper floor. If you do see such stains, check the angle of your gutters to make sure they’re properly slanted to allow water run-off; if not, clearing them may be all you need to do.
2. Sagging Gutters
When gutters start to sag under the weight of leaves and other debris, it’s time for simple cleaning – especially if they’ve already begun spilling over the edges instead of draining water away from your foundation. Clogs can be safely removed by grabbing the debris with your hands or by using a shop vacuum, but be sure to wear gloves and goggles (to protect your skin and eyes) when fishing out the mess.
3. Sluggish Downspouts
If downspouts that should be pushing water away from your foundation are sluggish, chances are you have a clog up above that’s causing pooling leaks onto the roof and around gutters, rather than allowing water to drain smoothly down through them. If this is the case, grab a bucket of soapy water and slosh it around at different spots inside each gutter where there might be a leak – if you find any bars of soap lying below each spout after 5-10 minutes, it means a clog. You can solve it by using a hose to spray water at the blockage, or hiring a professional to remove the problem on your behalf.
4. Birds Building Nests in Gutters
Another sign of gutters that are too crowded is when you notice birds building nests inside them – especially if they’re high up on a wall where you would have difficulty reaching them. In such cases, climbing on a ladder and clearing out this mess yourself may be your only option; but make sure the bar from which you work is securely fixed to walls and strong enough to hold your weight before starting work.
5. Leaves Aren’t Draining Away Periodically
Leaves tend to stick together while falling from trees during autumn, so if your gutters are clean, you shouldn’t see lots of leaves stuck in them. But to check for clogs yourself, wait until autumn and look out for lumps glued together with mud, twigs or other debris caught up in the gutter’s angled bars – this is a sign that there’s also a blockage higher up along the slope. Cleaning should be done each year before fall begins, to prevent problems next spring when all that wet weather arrives again.
