One of the easiest ways to avoid Atlanta water damage is to clean your gutters on a regular basis.

What is black, slimey and quietly damaging your homes foundation while you read this? I’ll give you another hint…  It is also a breeding ground for mosquitoes, termites and mice. Have you guessed yet?

We are talking about the garbage that is collecting in your gutters. While you are reading this article, leaves, pine straw and other wind swept debris are silently collecting in your gutters and clogging your downspouts.

While gutter cleaning is one of most dreaded things for a home owner to do, it is also one of the most important things you can do to maintain and protect the beauty and value of your home.

Why is gutter cleaning so important to the future well being of your home and family?

Did you know that when your gutters get full of leaves, twigs and straw they become heavy and eventually can even pull off their optimal pitch. In fact, resources state that a gutter that is full of water can weigh over 300 lbs! While we all know that water flows downhill, an off pitch gutter could cause water to just sit there, back up and even overflow.

Now how does that impact your home?

As the gutters water overflows, it begins to leaks behind the gutter. This will cause facia and soffits to rot and can eventually travel into your home.

Now, I don’t need to remind you of the seriousness of this, do I?  You already know that overflowing water is the culprit of:

• Mold growth inside your homes and ceilings
• Wet insulation which has no “R” value any loger to keep your home warm in the water
• Termites love wet drywall and insulation. If you live in Ga, it is not a question of will you have termites problems…It is only a matter of when. Wet building materials attract them like flies to honey.
• Water penetration into the foundation can lead to all different kinds of structual problems down the road
• Rotting deck timbers
• Mosquito breeding grounds. (They just love standing water, don’t they?)
• Ruining of your beautiful landscape, bushes, and flower beds

Each of these can contribute to a water damage nightmare down the road with your insurance company. Even worse, you will also have to share these problems as a part of full disclosure when you eventually try to sell your home.

Like Rodney Dangerfield, gutters get little respect. They are the unsung hero of protection of our home. Unfortunately, many of us adopt a “no news is good news” attitude regarding them.

As a result, we may tend to only get our gutters cleaned only when they notice a problem with their leaders and gutters. For example you may visibly see pine straw hanging over the top of the gutter, or you may see little or no water coming down the spout.

Unfortunately, it may be too late & by that time, our home may have already suffered water damage. Again, I don’t need to remind you how expensive it is to tear out water damaged siding, drywall and insulation. Or even worse to have a termite infestation with all of its rotted wood repaired.

Its expensive. Really expensive.

The funny thing is that it’s not very expensive to have them professionally cleaned. Its generally about a hundred bucks to do an average home by a professional gutter cleaning company. If you think about it that is pocket change compared with the costs of water damage restoration project.

The funny thing about it, is that for home owners who adopt the attitude of “well I’ll just turn it in on my insurance” for every little nickle and dime repair, they may be in for a rude awakening for abusing the system when their rates go up or even worse get canceled. Then it will be too late to do preventive maintenance.

In conclusion, you will be suprised at the gobs of dirt, gravel from roofing shingles, pod seeds, straw, leaves, twigs, bugs and “things that are growing” up there. That is why, regular maintenance of your gutters is essential to the health of your home!

How often should I clean my gutters?

Believe it or not the professionals tell us that gutters should be cleaned at least twice a year to protect your home investment and your families health.  The pro’s tell us the best time of year to clean them is in March, and August, as well as during the 3 biggest fall months of October, November and December before the winter freeze.  Many gutter cleaning companies offer service plans so that you are on a regular preventive maintenance schedule. You usually get the best pricing if you opt for a service plan.
If you are the kind of person that likes to do things yourself then you will need a tall ladder, a leaf blower and a pair of work gloves.  Don’t put this off. Termite damage and Atlanta water damage restoration repairs are nothing to play with.

Related posts:

1. Water Damage Clean up in Clarkdale GA – 2009 Atlanta Flood
2. Cleanup Tips For Water Damage In Atlanta
3. Atlanta Flood Cleanup: Day 1
4. Freezing Pipes Cause Water Damage In Atlanta
5. Mushrooms growing through her carpet