FAQs Archives

Clogged Gutters

Gutter Cleaning

Do you find yourself wondering, “What’s the worst thing that can happen if I don’t have my gutters cleaned?”

clogged gutters wichita how will I know when my gutters need to be cleaned

And when it rains does water spill from the sides of your gutters?

Furthermore, is water backing up in your home?

Most homeowners know that they need to keep their gutters clean, but not many know exactly what can happen when clogged gutters go unchecked for too long. Seasons in Kansas can wreak havoc on old, worn or sagging gutters. From the seasonal fall leaves to the spring “helicopters” and other tree seeds, most homeowners can’t catch a break.

Having gutters cleaned might seem like a trivial task, but failure to do so can cause major problems for a home. From costly foundation damage to detrimental roof leaks, clogged gutters can lead to expensive repairs when left untreated.

Here is what you need to know:

Clogged Gutters in the Fall Create Ice Dams in the Winter

Our winters aren’t kind to gutters. During the coldest months, ice dams can form on your gutters or on the lower edge of your roof. Clogged gutters prevent water from draining, which increases the chance for ice dams. Ice dams cause water to pool and eventually seep into the home. The excessive weight of winter ice dams will likely cause your gutters to sag or pull away from your fascia board.

Leaking or Overflowing Gutters Can Damage Your Home’s Foundation

damage to home foundation clogged gutter

The job of a well-maintained gutter system is to whisk water away from your home. A clogged gutter stops your gutter system from working and too often allows water to pour over the sides of your gutters. Water is a home’s worst enemy. Over time, this water builds up around the foundation of your home causing mold, cracks and in some cases, foundation collapse.

Foundation damage can be caused by more than just rain overflow. Are your downspouts endangering your foundation? Make sure that your downspouts extend well beyond the perimeter of your home. You can purchase an extender inexpensively at a home improvement store. Placing pavers, stones or concrete around the perimeter under downspouts can also create better drainage and prevent water from invading your home.

Backed Up Water Causes Your Home’s Exterior to Rot

Fascia boards that hold your gutter system are often made of wood. When debris builds up in your gutters, clogs cause water to build up in your gutters. The water build-up causes wooden fascias to deteriorate and rot pretty quickly. Even worse, if your home is wood and/or has wooden siding, the water backup can cause expensive damage to the structure of your home.

What You Can Expect

When you call us to clean your gutters, you can expect us to:

remove all debris from your gutters and downspouts
reseal and tighten gutter systems as necessary
test the gutters to ensure proper flow
visually inspect the roof and gutter systems
photograph your service when complete
clean up after ourselves

Gutter King Wichita has the #1 Rated Gutter Guards

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We do get this question a lot: “How will I know when my gutters need to be cleaned?”

You probably would rather think about a zillion other things besides your gutters. We understand.

Well, lemme ask you a question and then I will tell you a short little story.

A Question

Have you ever walked into a room of your basement and suddenly heard “splat-squish-splat-squish” down at your feet? And not a crunchy sound, like broken bits of dog food on the garage floor that should have been swept up. But instead, a sloppy, wet, and squishy sound. Like something is very berry wrong. Well, once upon a time, a very long time ago, we did that! Yep.

how will I know when my gutters need to be cleaned gutter cleaning wichita

A Short Little Story

It went something like this:

“Hey, ummmm what is this?” she asked.

“What’s what?” he asked.

“The carpet! It’s wet,” she said.

“What… I say what in the name of Jesse James do you suppose that is?”
–Foghorn Leghorn

“Oh, that’s water coming in at the top!”

How will I know when my gutters need to be cleaned

[sigh] It was a disaster! A pain in the butt. It was not fun. And furthermore, the cost to repair it was everything in this universe BUT cheap!

Cleaning the gutters would certainly have cost less.

The End.

gutter cleaning wichita

how will I know when my gutters need to be cleaned

Proactive versus Reactive

The BEST way to tell if your gutters are working properly is by taking a walk around the outside of your house and performing your own inspection.

you should check the downspouts and seams for cracks or separations, and
check that water flows down to the downspouts and doesn’t leak at the elbows, and
look at the splash blocks to see if they are properly aligned under the downspouts, and
make sure the gutters are not bent, crushed or coming off of the house

If you see any of the following, please give us a call right away:

water dripping from the bottom of the gutters (when it is not raining)
rainwater pooling at the foundation
a water trough or impression on your turf or landscape, near the foundation, and parallel to the roof line

BUT… most importantly, please don’t get out your ladder (unless you work for us).

Don’t risk a fall. Because your wife, husband, mother, father, daughter, son and your dog will thank you.

Just give us a call. Within mere minutes, we’ll set you up for a F.R.E.E., no obligation inspection.

If we find an issue, we can give you an instant quote for repair, cleaning, or even replacement.

Gutter King Wichita – When It Pours, We Reign

walk around the outside of your house and performing your own inspection

Category: FAQs

Can Clogged Gutters Damage My Home?