With the warmer weather finally here, homeowners are tackling outdoor cleaning and maintenance tasks.  One important spring cleaning tasks for homes is roof and gutter maintenance.  This is especially true seeing as how investing in a proper roof cleaning can help maximize a roof’s shingle life for up to 20 or 25 years.

Prevent mold growth: If gutters become clogged with debris, like leaves and twigs, the water that builds up within the gutter system won’t be able to escape.  And when this happens, the water has nowhere to go but into the roof and walls of the house.  Not only can this result in severe water damage, but it can also lead to mold growth.  Standing water and water damage areas are breeding grounds for mold, so it’s important to avoid this at all costs.

Avoid pest infestations: Gutters that are full of debris make a perfect home for pests.  Critters and insects like ants, wasps, mice, squirrels, and more look for new homes during the spring — and they all love nesting in clogged gutters.  And from the gutters, they may eventually find their way inside the house.  So to avoid having unwelcome guests in your home, you need to have your gutters cleaned out. Gutter cleaning services can ensure there is nowhere for pests to nest in.

Clogged Gutters Create Habitats For Pests

Gutters clogged with leaves and organic debris can be an attractive spot for pests and rodents like mice, squirrels, and mosquitoes.  Once they have moved into your gutters, these pests can easily access your home via damaged attic vents, rotting boards, or chimneys.

Mosquitoes
When your gutters get clogged it dams up the water and creates a reservoir that is perfect for mosquitoes to lay their eggs.  So make sure all water is flowing and exiting your gutters properly to make sure mosquitoes aren’t using them as a breeding ground.

Birds
In the spring, birds look for a cozy place out of the wind and rain to build their nests.  When birds build their nests in gutters, it can cause water to back up, spill over the edge, and erode the soil near your foundation, leading to foundation damage and basement flooding.

Rodents
Rats, mice, bats, and squirrels are also attracted to a clogged gutter.  Rodents love to climb, and if they have moved into your gutters they will be spending a lot of time on and around your roof.  From here, they can easily chew through a board or screen to gain entry into your attic and crawl spaces.

After a long winter, your gutters are sure to be clogged with a wide variety of debris.  And if you want to ensure they’re ready to work as they should the rest of the year, you need to invest in a gutter cleaning.

Consider Gutter Guards

If you’re tired of having to worry about cleaning your gutters, consider getting gutter guards installed.  Gutter guards are a type of metal screening that goes over the top of your gutters, which prevents leaves and debris from accumulating. This means that you will never have to clean your gutters again!  Gutter guards can be a bit pricey, but they are definitely worth it if you want to avoid all the hassle of gutter cleaning.

As you can see, there are several reasons to invest in low cost gutter cleaning this spring.  If you’re looking to avoid damage to your home and keep pests out of the gutters, consider hiring a professional gutter cleaning company.