Most Common Causes of Gutter Clogs

Seamless gutters play an important role in keeping your home safe from water damage. While they’re great at preventing leaks, they may still get clogged with debris if certain elements could still get into the gutters. 

Generally, adding a gutter cover and regularly cleaning your gutters significantly help in preventing clogs. But aside from that, it’s also good to know the different objects that could get stuck in your gutters as this would allow you to determine where the debris is coming from and how you can prevent buildup. 

In this article, gutter installation expert Advantage Seamless discusses three of the most common culprits of gutter clogs and how you can keep them from causing trouble to your gutter system.

Trees

It’s lovely to be surrounded by trees. But if they shed a lot of leaves throughout the year, it’s likely that a large portion of these leaves end up on your roof and into your gutters and downspouts. These could easily accumulate if you don’t regularly clear out the debris. The situation could even get worse if the leaves and twigs remain wet for extended periods after a rain. It would be difficult to blow them out, and they could also attract pests and birds to nest in your gutters. So clean your gutters regularly and install a gutter cover to prevent debris from ending up in your gutters.

Muck and Sludge

When leaves, guano and other organic material get stuck in your gutters, they eventually decompose and turn into a black, slimy, rotted material. Perhaps you’d want this in your compost pile, but certainly not in your gutters and downspouts where the slime could create a blockage and prevent water from flowing freely. To prevent organic debris from creating sludge inside your gutter system, regularly check your gutters and downspouts and have them cleaned professionally.

Snow and Ice

While it’s possible for snow and ice to accumulate on your roof, it won’t necessarily cause problems in your gutter system. However, the condition of your attic could be a crucial factor. If your attic does not have proper ventilation, it is likely to keep more warmth and cause the snow on the roof to melt excessively. And when the snow moves onto the cold gutter, it could easily turn into ice and cause the gutter to clog. That said, make sure that your roof is well-ventilated to avoid the potential damage to your gutters.

Whether it’s gutter installation or gutter cleaning, Advantage Seamless can deliver excellent results that meet your specific needs. Each member of our team is experienced and fully trained, so you can rest assured that your job will be done professionally. Call us at 218.558.0575 or fill out our contact form to request a free estimate. We serve customers in St. Cloud, MN, and the surrounding communities.