Blocked Gutters: One Of The Main Problems During House Inspection

A house inspection is usually done before a buyer is about to purchase a house. This is their last chance to uncover any defects and get the owner or the seller to pay for them before the deal is sealed. As a seller, you must know what the inspector might want to look for and fix any problem that might turn into a deal-breaker. Considering how hard COVID-19 has hit the real estate industry in the U.S., you need to ensure that your house is in the best state for sale.

A house inspection involves thoroughly examining everything from the walls and roof to the central air conditioning and heating systems. However, if there’s one thing that primarily results in bad house inspection reports, it’s a clogged gutter or downspout. And there’s solid ground for it too. 

While defects in other parts of the house may impact one or two components, clogged gutters can open an entire Pandora’s box of problems. Please keep reading and find out what they are and why proper gutter maintenance is essential to a well-maintained and desirable home.

The main problems that clogged gutters can cause.

1. Leakage in the roof

Blocked gutters can stop the rainwater from getting away. The water will sit and become stagnant until it becomes so heavy that it makes its way inside your home.  

So, if you see water dripping from your ceiling, it’s a telltale sign of issues in your gutter, and high time for you to go ahead with some much-needed gutter cleaning.

2. Mold accumulation

If you think that leakage in the roof is the only problem that standing water will lead to, think again. Stagnant water will cause mold sooner or later. If mold starts breeding, it’s only a matter of time before it finds its way inside your roof, attic, or the walls of your house. If you are around NY, Ask for help with mold removal in Brooklyn NY. They can help you to sort out problems in regard to mold infestation.

3. Wood damage

Standing water, coupled with mold growth, can significantly deteriorate the wooden components of your home. It will soon turn the wood soggy, and if left unattended for a long time, it will have a very negative impact on the structure of your house.

4. Compromised foundation

Standing water around the foundation of your house can harm the foundation’s strength. It can cause cracks over the period and, in some instances, might even lead the entire structure to collapse. Therefore, make sure to go through basic cleaning of a gutter at the eaves of the house to protect your foundation and have a functioning home.

5. Ice dams

Clogged gutters often result in the formation of ice dams. These can create a separation in the roof shingles, thereby allowing water to go inside your house. Subsequently, your insulation might get wet and lead to mold growth. Your gutter might be destroyed too.

6. Entry of uninvited guests

Standing water is a definite favorite for mosquitoes, ants, and other pests. Small water pools can be quite inviting for mosquitoes, termites, carpenter ants, and all different kinds of unwanted guests. And, in case they lay their eggs there, you could soon be hosting hundreds of pests right in your home.

How to keep blocked gutters at bay

Fortunately, taking care of your gutters is quite simple regardless of how big problems blocked drains can cause in the long run. A couple of cleanings every year is all you need to keep your gutters flowing freely. Here are five simple tips that you can follow to keep blocked gutters at bay.

1. Use a pressure washer

Use a pressure washer to blast out any debris while standing on the roof. But make sure to use the washer on a low setting so that you don’t end up damaging the gutters. Also, run a quick check on the entire gutter hardware to ensure that there aren’t any loose screws that could break under the water pressure.

2. Invest in a shop vac

You can consider purchasing a shop vac to suck in the leaves and gunk blocking your gutters. Buy a universal shop vac that has an opening of at least 2.5 inches for more effective cleaning. The best thing about using a shop vac is that they usually come with two options, i.e., you can either suck in the leaves and gunk or blow them out by changing the direction of the airflow.

3. Deploy a leaf blower for mild debris

If the debris in your gutters isn’t too heavy and the blockage is caused only by a few leaves and twigs, a leaf blower can do the trick for you and get your gutters unclogged in no time. Some leaf blowers come with enough extensions, so that eliminates the need for you to get on a ladder and do the cleaning.

4. Use a gutter scoop or a garden trowel.

The entrance of downspouts often gets clogged by dirt, which may harden over time. In such a case, consider removing the dirt manually with a gutter scoop or a garden trowel. Also, get a pair of gloves, protective eye gear, and a tarp on which you can toss the debris.

5. Hire a professional

While gutter cleaning may seem like an easy job, and you could pull it off with relative ease, it’s always better to call in gutter cleaning professionals to do it for you if you don’t have much experience in doing it. As professionals, they have all the right tools and possess the technical know-how to carry out the job with maximum efficiency.

Wrapping Up

A house inspection should be a routine affair and not something you must worry about only when it is about to happen. While every component of your house is equally important during a house inspection, keeping a tab on the condition of your gutters is essential if you don’t want to be making a ton of repairs or giving the buyer significant credit.

Check your gutters now and then to make sure that they are in a good state. A clean gutter creates a good impression in front of a home inspector who will be looking at your gutter system as part of their inspection. It says a lot about how you’ve maintained your house. So, keep the tips given above in mind to make sure that you ace your house inspection report.

Nikolay Nikolov is a professional gutter and window cleaner. Nikolay is proud when he can help his fellow locals unclog and clean their gutters, clean their windows, driveways, and eavestroughs and install their holiday lights. He loves what he does, and his motto is to make the world a happier & cleaner place one home/business at a time. 

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