Clean gutters help prevent water damage | PEMCO
Did you know that water damage is one of the most costly and most common types of home claims? And, not only is it expensive, but it can cause a serious headache, including displacement from your home while your water damage is remediated.
However, there's good news to be shared! You can reduce your risk of water damage by taking a few simple (but important) steps around your home and property. With some proper, proactive planning, you can prevent a disaster before it strikes!
We recommend that you clean your gutters and downspouts two times a year (preferably in spring and at the end of fall) to reduce the risk of your gutters or downspouts overflowing and potentially seeping into your home.
Here are a few more tips and pointers to get you started
1. Clean and realign gutters.
Mud splashed on your siding, mystery puddles, and cascading “gutterfalls” during rain showers are all signs your gutters need love! They’re likely clogged or misaligned so water flows over the side instead of into downspouts (which is how the water is diverted away from your home). Wayward water can flood your crawlspace, wick under doors, or during thaws, force its way under your shingles and into your walls. No good!The fix: We love professional gutter cleaning services since they have the equipment to stay safe on ladders and often can handle minor gutter repairs at the same time. PEMCO’s gutter cleaning video can get you started if you want to DIY. (Remember to practice appropriate ladder safety.)
2. Unclog downspouts and underground drainpipes.
If your gutters still overflow, you likely have a blocked downspout or clogged underground drainpipe.
The fix: Hire a gutter company (or if you’re comfortable and willing, DIY) to disconnect downspouts at the elbow and clean out needles, leaves, and debris. If the clog extends to the drainpipe, hire a rooter service to camera-scope the pipe to reveal blockages. Often they can use water jets and cutting tools to remove invasive tree roots and get water flowing again. If your downspouts empty onto the ground, use extenders to channel water away from your foundation or connect downspouts to rain barrels to collect water for the garden.
Water damage can happen to anyone, but the good news is you can take little steps throughout the year to prevent the preventable – beginning with PEMCO’s Maintain, Inspect, Monitor roadmap.
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