Many homeowners invest in their homes in the spring & summer months but often skip fall maintenance as the weather forces us back indoors. Fall is a critical time for exterior maintenance to ensure your house is ready for the winter and prevent costly spring repairs. While eavestroughs may be the most overlooked area in your home, don’t underestimate the importance and value of keeping your eavestroughs clean.
Prevent Flooding
The main purpose of your eavestroughs is to direct water away from your home. When eavestroughs are clogged with leaves, sticks, and other debris, water cannot flow through and may have no choice but to seep through your roof, walls, and foundation. This can cause water damage on your ceilings, walls, and flooding in your basement. To add to the stress of flooding in your home, most insurance companies will not cover the damage if it was caused by improper maintenance of your eavestroughs.
Keep Insects & Rodents Away
Insects and rodents look for a warm, secure place to call home. Gutters full of leaves and debris are the perfect nesting place for mice, birds, mosquitos, and other rodents and insects. Rodents can damage your eavestroughs, home’s exterior, and leave behind toxic waste. Insects can use your eavestroughs as a breeding ground, spreading disease and making outdoor entertaining unpleasant.
Avoid Costly Gutter Repairs
Quality eavestroughs that are well maintained should last for decades, however, the key to long-lasting eavestroughs is regular cleaning and maintenance. As the temperature drops, any water & debris left in your gutters will freeze. This forces your gutters to bear a lot of weight, which not only blocks water drainage but may cause your gutters to bend and break. Replacing your gutters can cost thousands of dollars, which makes eavestrough cleanings well worth the cost. In Canada, eavestrough repair & replacements can cost anywhere from $10-$50+ per linear foot with installation, making eavestrough cleaning an important investment.
Minimize Mould & Mildew
Dark, damp and warm places are the perfect place for mould and mildew to flourish. Mould & mildew are known to create allergens, worsen respiratory conditions, and are overall bad for our health. When your eavestroughs are clogged, they trap water and leaves, encouraging mould & mildew to grow.
Power Wash Your Eavestroughs
Consider power washing your eavestroughs twice a year, in the fall and again in the spring. This will ensure all debris is removed and your eavestroughs are working as designed. Learn more about H2GO’s residential power washing services here. Contact the experts for your fall power wash at H2GO Mobile Wash for a free estimate or call us at 1-888-990-4246.
