An overflowing gutter probably isn’t high up on your list of things to fear, but if it’s ever happened to you before, you’ll understand the cold terror that rips through your body when you realise that your home may begin to be less watertight than you might have originally hoped. Your mind immediately leaps into action and you begin to think of anyone you know who’s had a gutter replacement in Melbourne and who can recommend someone great to help you… Thankfully there are a number of simple ways to mitigate such a potential catastrophe, and I want to discuss some of the five major dangers of an overflowing gutter before touching on how to avoid these dangers! Let’s take a look at how to keep your gutter working well this year.
Five dangers of an overflowing gutter
1) Mould will grow
When you have an excess of water in your home, you run the risk of growing mould. Not only is mould gross to look at and very unsightly to guests, it can be a serious hazard to your health. As water cascades off the roof due to a faulty gutter, it can cause your foundation, siding and basement to become moist which can lead to mould growth. Breathing in the spores of mould can cause various respiratory problems, as well as headaches and other health issues. Not an ideal situation for a family sharing a home.
2) Water spotting
In addition to the presence of mould, you can get water staining on the side of your house which can also damage your home if the water is frequent and severe enough.
3) Cracks in concrete and driveways
When water repeatedly falls onto the ground around your home, it can cause the ground to weaken or shift as the moisture and water moves through the soil. What this can do is compromise the structure of your home and can cause it to move or crack. Your driveway, concrete paths and other areas where water hits can all be affected by this kind of water impacting on your home.
4) Leaks in your home
When it storms, you want to know that you’re safe and dry in your home. When you see a leak beginning to form in your home, that’s a bad sign that not all is as it should be. Overflowing gutters can overflow both onto the outside of your home, and onto the inside of your home, where water can pool in your roof and burst down into your home. You don’t want this to happen, as it can damage or destroy artworks, carpet, furnishings and electrical items.
5) Reduce the value of your home
Nobody wants to buy a home with gutters that look worn out or worn down. If you replace your gutters when required, you’ll avoid the majority of these things happening. Also, ensure that you clean your gutters regularly as this will ensure that you mitigate the possible risks of these things happening to you in your home.
How to clean your gutters?
Get rid of moss, leaves, branches and anything else that can impede the flow of water down the downpipes. If you have a high roof or aren’t confident, pay someone else to do it for you. It’s a minor cost compared to the potential risk of you hurting yourself or of your home being compromised by a leaking or overflowing gutter.
I hope that you have found some of this information interesting and helpful in regard to cleaning your gutters. There are potential risks that come with not having clean gutters, but with a little care and maintenance, these can be avoided easily.
