Gutters Matter

8/5/2020 (Permalink)

Gutters Matter

August 5^th, 2020

Several weeks back our area experienced a significant amount of rainfall which brought the wettest on record according to the National Weather Service. In receiving this significant amount of rainfall, aside from the flooding (water damage) that comes as a result of rising rivers or other bodies of water, we began also receiving calls from customers that had unexplained mold growing on their ceilings as well as outside walls on their homes or businesses. Since one of the key factors in properly mitigating a water damage is identifying the source, naturally we began with a roof inspection, which in every case to the date of this blog posting, has produced no findings which would indicate a raised nail, missing screw, or shingle tab is the culprit. Following a flood of questions to the homeowner, which generally reveal no prior history of brown stains or leaks from the ceiling or walls, some may not know to look at or inspect the gutter system.

Gutters play a significant role in a number of things which protect the home. They keep water from running directly off of a roof and onto a deck, into your flower bed, and through the proper design/installation/operation of the gutter system, also diverts water away from the foundation of the home. According to our friends over at Erie Insurance, failing to annually inspect your gutter system can result in Foundation Problems, Broken Gutters, Wall and Ceiling Damage, a Wet Basement, and Insect Infestations.

Our customers were all found to have the same issue, easily avoidable clogged gutters which permitted the gutter system to become backfilled with water, further permitting that water to intrude into the home. Following a brief inspection of the gutters, debris was found in the downspouts, in some cases with plants growing out of them, which prevented the water from properly draining.

As their article properly suggests, gutter damage is expensive to mitigate, but inexpensive and easy to prevent. Take the proper precaution to inspect your gutters, ensuring you have the proper tools, ladder, and equipment to mitigate any issues you find. Taking the time to do this will allow you to also better inspect your homes roof for any damage from the previous season, as well as other areas you may need to focus on moving forward.

If your home has suffered water damage, call SERVPRO of LBL North to assist you in mitigating this damage! We are always happy to help!

JN

References:

Metz, J. (2018, October 17). 5 Common problems caused by clogged gutters. Retrieved from Erie Insurance: https://www.erieinsurance.com/blog/clean-gutters

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. (2020, August 5th). National Climate Report - June 2020. Retrieved from National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration: https://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/sotc/national/202006