*Updated 10/5/24
Maintaining clean gutters, especially in Texas where large variations of weather conditions can quickly lead to clogs, is vitally important. The fact that your house already has gutters is a great investment in protecting your most valuable asset.
Keeping your gutters clean is crucial for homeowners in Texas because clogged gutters can cause significant damage to the roof, exterior siding, and prevent foundation damage.
How do you know if your gutters need cleaning? If you can’t recall the last time you had your gutters cleaned, you could be in need of an inspection either by a professional or yourself. To assist, you will need to know the top 7 signs of clogged gutters and why these common signs are particularly important for you to be aware of in Texas.
Why Gutters Get Clogged in Texas
Regional Weather Patterns:
Texas presents unfortunate and unique challenges when dealing with gutters. The Texas climate varies widely with extreme outliers in the type of weather patterns ranging from heavy rains storms, wind, humidity, and high heat all contributing to clogged gutters.
Various types of common debris are found in Texas that wreak havoc on gutters. Debris, such as leaves from oak trees, pine needles, dust, acorns, seeds, and even shingle grit infiltrate gutters year-round.
Impact of Texas Climate on Gutters:
Hot, dry summers and wet winters exacerbate gutter issues for Texans. The heat tends to damage roofs by causing shingles or tiles to chip. This causes debris from roofs to build up in gutters. Not only that, when gutters are exposed to increased moisture during winter months, then this can also lead to the deterioration of roofing tiles, which could again cause subsequent gutter problems.
Roofing tiles can be made of slate, wood, clay, asphalt, or other materials, all of which are common in Texas. However, the use of such materials has unfortunately led to many clogged gutters. Knowing how to conduct preventative maintenance on these tiles is important in preventing your gutters from clogging.
Top 7 Signs Your Gutters Need Repair
Sign 1: Overflowing Water During Rain.
The first sure-fire sign of clogged rain gutters is when water is not draining properly but instead is spilling over the side of the gutters.
During heavy rains, overflowing water from clogged gutters can increase water levels in the soil around your home. Too much water in the soil around your home can cause soil erosion, which can cause damage to your foundation.
Sign 2: Plants Growing in the Gutters.
Plant growth in gutters is another sign that your gutters are clogged. When dirt, plants, and other debris start to collect in your gutters, this creates fertile ground for the seeds that also attack gutters in Texas.
It is highly important to remove plants from your gutters and prevent them from coming back. Plants being allowed to grow in gutters will lead to added weight in the gutters that they were not intended to bear. Moreover, a root system developing in the gutter will lead to further blockage.
Sign 3: Sagging Gutters.
Sagging gutters are another one of the tell-tale signs that your gutters are clogged. As the weight of the water and debris in the clog grows heavier, the gutter will begin to sag.
Addressing sagging gutters is highly important. Sagging gutters can cause structural damage to a home by allowing water to build up around the home’s foundation.
Sign 4: Staining on Exterior Walls.
While water overflowing from your gutters is one of the warning signs that your gutters are clogged, so are the stains that the running water leaves on the siding. As dirty water flows from your gutter onto the side of your home, it will naturally leave a trail behind. If you see these trails and water stains, your gutters are likely clogged.
As increased moisture surrounds the home and is met with humid Texas weather, this creates the perfect conditions for mold growth on your home.
Sign 5: Pests Around Your Gutters.
Believe it or not, finding pests such as mosquitoes and rodents around your gutters is an indicator that your gutters are clogged.
Mosquitos love standing water. Not only that, but rodents often make their homes in gutters when enough debris has collected within them. Pests such as termites and carpenter ants are attracted to wet wood, which is another common occurrence when dealing with blocked gutters. As a result, even further damage from pests can occur when clogged gutters remain clogged.
Sign 6: Water Damage in the Basement
A clogged gutter can also be the culprit behind your basement flooding.
Water seeping into basements has caused high volumes of mold growth and triggered damage to foundations in Texas homes.
Sign 7: Gutter Pulling Away from the House
While clogged gutters can eventually lead to sagging gutters, they can also lead to gutters pulling away from the house entirely. As the weight of debris and water within your gutters continues to increase, the fasteners which hold your gutter to your home will eventually loosen, and your gutter may detach from your home.
When gutters detach from the side of a house, they could fall off and cause damage to whatever lies underneath. In addition, without gutters to collect and direct rainfall during rainstorms, water is more susceptible to collecting around your home, which can lead to costly damage to your foundation, basement, or the side of your home.
The Consequences of Ignoring Clogged Gutters
Foundation Problems:
A home’s foundation is an essential component of a structurally sound home. When water enters the soil, it causes the soil to shift. Too much water can cause severe shifting, which can alter and damage foundations.
Leaky Roof Damage:
Standing water in clogged gutters can damage the roof structure because it leaves the material around the gutters moist. The moisture can lead to mold and deterioration.
Increased Pest Infestations:
Pests love clogged gutters. Mosquitoes thrive in stagnant water. Water buildup can also attract other pests and insects, such as termites and carpenter ants, which eat damp wood.
Mold and Mildew Issues:
Clogged gutters are a major cause of mold growth both inside and outside the home. Overflowing gutters allow rainwater to find its way into basements, which fosters mold growth inside. Standing water and prolonged moisture buildup, mixed with Texas humidity, also leaves the exterior of homes attacked by mold growth.
Higher Home Repair Costs:
While it is easy to forgo gutter maintenance in the moment, the one who does so will often pay the price. Regular maintenance is the best way to protect your home and avoid costly repairs in the long run.
Preventative Measures
At Bright Bid Homes, we completed over 2500 real estate transactions so we have seen a lot of property damage of all sorts, ranging from fire damage or wind storms, but damage from clogged gutters is the easiest to prevent and avoid. Costly repairs from clogged gutters is truly avoidable. It is a home repair expense you can skip with a few easy precautions!
A simple roof cleaning with a few tools and basic equipment like: a garden hose for water to use a powerwashing machine, a ladder to access the gutters, a gutter scoop, and a big broom to sweep away leaves and debris.
Regular Gutter Inspections:
How often you should inspect your gutters depends on your location and the type of gutter system you are using. Do you have an upgraded seamless gutters or more traditional gutters? Nevertheless, a good rule of thumb for peace of mind is to have your gutters inspected at least twice a year or more frequently if your home is surrounded by trees. Gutter inspections should become an important part of your home maintenance routine.
Seasonal Cleaning Tips:
Some tips on cleaning gutters include using a ladder to inspect the gutters, a hose to spray water into the gutter to test the flow of water, and removing the downspout if your gutters are not draining. The best time to clean your gutters is on a dry day when the debris has had time to dry. Be sure to watch for extra debris during the autumn season.
Gutter Guards and Their Benefits:
Gutter guards can also be a helpful solution to maintaining clean gutters and reducing the amount of cleaning needed. They help to keep out debris, such as nuts, twigs, and leaves. At the same time, there are varying degrees of quality to gutter guards that you will want to consider. Pine needles getting stuck in the mesh is also a common occurrence.
Professional Gutter Cleaning Services:
While maintaining your gutters is an important task that you may want to do yourself, you should also consider that it’s time to hire a professional. Oversight of gutters can be a dangerous and time-consuming job. This fact is heightened as one considers the slope and height of a roof.
Build An Annual Gutter Action Plan in Texas
Although not the most enjoyable DIY activity for a weekend (or an expense that should be skipped), It is essential to maintain your gutters regularly in Texas and to watch for the many signs of clogged gutters. Clogged gutters can cause damage and cause a leaky roof, sides, foundation, and basement of your home. They are also a welcoming haven for many pests and rodents.
Ensure that you inspect your gutters regularly or contact a professional for the help you need to get the job done right. Looking into gutter maintenance services, gutter-guard installation services, and gutter repair in Fort Worth or Dallas TX could be a good place to start.