Did you know clogged gutters can pose a pest control hazard for your home? If you don’t keep gutters free of clogs and working properly, there’s a whole slew of problems that can occur. Sometimes those problems can even be severe enough to lower your property value and result in expensive repairs.
Gutters and Pests
As we head into spring and the leaves return, so too do the insect populations that call the Southeast home. And while we’re busy admiring the new leaves and returning flowers, these unwelcome critters are settling into last year’s fallen ones, as well as any other yard debris they can find.
In many homes across the Carolinas and Georgia, this means the gutters along the roof.
How often should you have your gutters inspected? What can you do to protect your home in the meantime? What is the recommendation from Terminix for gutter guards? Keep reading to find out more.
A Paradise for Pests
Clogged gutters are practically a perfect environment for many types of pests, including cockroaches (or Palmetto Bugs) and ants. Not only do the clogged gutters provide these pests with food, moisture, and a protected area to live and breed, they also offer up easy access to your attic through the eaves. What’s more, standing water in gutters can also breed mosquitoes, flies, gnats, and other pesky flying insects.
Before you know it, you could have a full-blown infestation of cockroaches, ants, or other pests on your hands. At that point, you’ll definitely need to call in cockroach exterminators or other pest control services (like Terminix) to reclaim your home.
Damage From Clogged Gutters Can Add Up
Besides attracting pests, clogged gutters can result in damaging your home. It can cause eaves and fascia boards to rot when the water builds up and sits stagnant against them. Replacing rotten fascia boards can be expensive.
Plus, these damaged areas are a prime target for carpenter ants, which can cause even more damage. (If you think it’s time to call in an ant exterminator, reach out to the pest control pros at Terminix.)
Clogged gutters also allow water to pool around the foundation of the home, which weakens it. This can cause cracks in the foundation to occur, or form penetration points that allow water to seep into the crawlspace or basement. In the winter, frozen water in the gutters can block the flow of unfrozen water from the roof. This excess water can weaken the shingles and wood and cause roof leaks.
Finally, when clogged gutters don’t divert water away from the home, this will allow pools of water to accumulate. These pools of water can freeze in the winter and pose a major safety hazard to you and anyone else walking around these areas.
If you notice water spilling over the front or back of your rain gutters, then something is wrong. It can be caused by debris in the gutter, such as leaves, sticks, pine needles, roofing materials, etc. In these instances, the recommendation from Terminix is gutter guards for your home.
On the other hand, the problem could also be caused by faulty or worn out gutter hanging brackets. The brackets may sag over time, or completely fall off, and need to be adjusted or replaced.
Keeping Gutters Clean
Cleaning gutters is vitally important to the long-term health of your home—and can save you from having to call in palmetto pest removal services. Experts recommend that you clean and inspect your gutters in the spring and in the late fall, or even more often depending on the number of nearby trees.
Doing this is laborious and time-consuming. It can also be dangerous because it usually requires climbing up and down a ladder or getting on the roof.
That’s why we always recommend eliminating this maintenance by having gutter protection installed. A properly installed gutter protection system will keep out leaves and debris and allow water to flow freely through the gutters.
Not sure where to start? We’re here to help. With over 75 years of experience backed by the strongest guarantee in the industry, our local offices and expert technicians are just a phone call away when you need to call in the professionals.
Ready to take the first step? Schedule a free inspection from the local pest control experts at Terminix for gutter guard reviews and recommendations, as well as other vital tips to keep the pests at bay and protect your home.