Top ten signs of blocked gutters
Gutters do an important job of preventing water damage to your house by diverting our old pal, H2O, away from your roof and walls. But when it comes to maintaining the outside of a house, gutter cleaning is usually a low priority for homeowners.
We get it. It’s not the most glamourous job. And you’ve got millions of other things to do, so it’s probably not top of mind. But leaving them to become blocked can cause a lot of damage to your home.
Ideally, gutter cleaning should be done once each year, or more if there are a lot of trees near your home. But, it can be difficult knowing when it’s time to get the ladders out or call in the professionals.
So, here are the top ten signs to look out for to figure out if your gutters are blocked.
By the way, the last one might surprise you!
PLANT GROWTH
If you can see plants growing from your gutters, it’s definitely time to get them cleared. This is a sure-fire sign because plants will only grow when there’s soil present. Soil prevents water from flowing down guttering freely, and is one of the most common causes of blockages.
2. your gutters overflow when it rains
Gutters are designed to handle moderate to heavy rainfall without overflowing. If you notice a trickle or runoff, it's best to get the professionals in sooner rather than later. If left too long, that trickle can easily turn into a full-on waterfall during heavy rain.
And overflowing gutters can lead to much bigger problems that cost a fortune to fix….but more on that below.
3. Your downspouts overflow when it rains
This is a common sign that your downspouts are completely blocked. The usual culprits are soil that's been washed from the guttering into the downspouts and also, believe it or not, tennis balls. In fact, we once found three tennis balls jammed inside just one downspout!
4. SLIPPERY paths and driveways
If you find that you’re having to regularly clean a slippery algae-like substance from your paths and driveway, your guttering could be to blame.
If they frequently overflow when it rains, it’s likely the water coming out of them is stagnant and filled with algae and decomposed leaves. Once the rain stops, the water evaporates but the slippery slime is left behind.
Not only is this dangerous for you and your family, but it’s a sign that your gutters need a good clear out.
5. SAGGING GUTTERS
If soil, plant life and debris build up in your gutters, they can start to sag under the weight. If left sagging for too long, they can become damaged, break or even fall off their fixings.
6. Stained, mildewy walls
The stagnant water that builds up inside blocked guttering can splash onto your walls and roof. This can quickly cause staining and mildew growth, or even a strong and unpleasant smell. If you notice either of these, it's time to consider professional gutter cleaning. If left, the damp can come right through to your internal plaster, causing discoloured walls, mould and unpleasant smells.
7. Damaged brickwork or cracked walls
If you’ve noticed your brickwork is cracked, has large patches of ‘blown’ bricks (where the brick fronts fall away), or the pointing (cement in between the bricks) is crumbling away, it’s possible that your guttering has been been blocked for a long, long time.
If possible, it's best to get a professional in before problems become this extreme, because failing brickwork can be expensive to repair.
8. roof leaking
The biggest, most expensive problem that can be caused by blocked gutters is roof damage.
When they become blocked, rain doesn’t have anywhere to drain away. This causes a build-up of water on your roof, which can eventually weaken tiles and cause small hairline fractures. During winter, the water sitting in these hairline cracks freezes and expands, and over time causes them to become larger breaks that let water in.
9. You can’t remember when they were last cleaned
As with most things, prevention is better than cure. If you can’t remember the last time you had them cleaned, it’s definitely time to schedule a gutter cleaning appointment.
Starting at only £45, a professional gutter cleaning service is a great annual maintenance investment that pays for itself many times over by helping to prevent serious damage to your home.
10. you often see birds flying to and from your gutters
This is the one that often surprises people. If you frequently see birds flying to and from your gutters, there’s a good chance they need clearing out.
Attracted by the twigs, leaves, moss and edible goodies inside, birds find blocked guttering a really useful place to get nest materials and a snack.
While you might not mind (or even enjoy!) birds flying around your home, gutters left blocked for too long can attract other critters that’ll you’ll probably find far less cute. Bugs, squirrels and rodents to mention but a few.
So, perhaps call in the gutter cleaning professionals and put out a bird feeder to take care of your feathered friends.
DIsover more about our gutter cleaning services
Want to find out more? Visit our Gutter Cleaning service page for more details, to see our five-star customer reviews, or get an instant quote.
