Clogged gutters During Winter Months can be Hazardous to you Home in Canton, Ohio

12/12/2018 (Permalink)

Northwest Stark County crews available 24/7/365!

So how often should you clean your gutters? It is recommended that you clean your gutters AT LEAST twice a year! SERVPRO of Northwest Stark County is called out to do water cleanup and/or mold mitigation in basements because of clogged gutters in the Canton, Ohio area. The reason we have gutters on your home is to guide the heavy rain to the downspouts and away from your home. When working properly gutters are very effective at doing their job. If a gutter gets clogged up by dust, leaves, dirt, and other outside debris, it can stop or slow the drainage off your roof, causing more damage than you may know.  

The importance of cleaning the gutters is to protect your roofs, siding and foundations to your home. Clogged gutters have a tendency to become over-weighted with slow moving water, soiled dirt, leaves, and ice (in the winter months).  If your gutters are clogged the water still needs to go somewhere, so it finds its way down the back of your siding causing the wood to rot and form mold. It can also flow over the sides of the gutter and pool around the foundation. Over time the water can crack the foundation and potentially resulting in water to your basement and usually foundation issues are not covered by insurance making it very costly to you.

Clogged gutters during the winter months can create many hazards. Ice can collect around the gutter discharge making for a slippage hazard in walkways. Ice can also back-up in a clogged gutter, causing ice build-up that fills the gutter and prevents proper flow of melting snow. This snow melt then turns to ice on the roof and continues to build ‘up’ with nowhere else to go. Built-up ice on the roof can cause leaking into the interior of the house as it starts to melt. Please be safe when cleaning out your gutters. If you do end up with water damage or mold to your home, please contact SERVPRO of Northwest Stark County at 330-497-4600. We proudly offer 24-hour emergency service, and we are equipped to deal with any size disaster.