Vancouver, although known for its stunning mountains, does receive abundant rainfall. While many of us have come to accept the rainy days in exchange for the beautiful mountainside location – it, unfortunately, doesn’t fare well for our homes, especially with little to no gutter maintenance. This presents unique challenges for homeowners.
At Umbrella Property Services, we understand the importance of maintaining your gutters and take pride in ensuring your gutters function optimally even during the rainy months. That’s why we’ve broken down below the 8 benefits of gutter cleaning and how it can maintain the upkeep of your home during the especially wet season.
#1 Prevents Water Damage
It’s critical to ensure your gutters and downspouts are flowing properly so that when it rains, the water running off the roof drains properly into your drain tile. If your gutter system isn’t working properly, water can end up finding its way into places it shouldn’t be. Your foundation may not be the only victim here, water damage can also affect your home’s ceilings, walls, floor and fascia boards – to name a few. Over the long term, water damage can add up to tens of thousands in repair bills.
#2 Enhances Comfort As Well As Your Health
Getting your gutters serviced increases not only your comfort levels but your health, too
Insects and rodents love to nest and breed in gutters. The damp air, leaves, pine needles and bodies of murky water are the perfect mating grounds. Additionally, decomposing debris in gutters can promote the growth of mould and mildew, leading to respiratory issues, as stated by the Institute of Medicine (2004).
#3 Extends Your Roof Lifespan
Gutters are effectively a shield. During the winter months, clogged gutters trap ice and put unnecessary strain on the weight being held by them. While unlikely, cases have occurred where this stress has caused roofing materials to collapse unexpectedly. This strain can continue to grow as the frozen ice moves roof shingles apart. Maintenance by companies such as ours means that we service your gutters to ensure that they are maintained to standards where ice and water will flow easily from your roof eliminating the excess weight and pooling.
#4 Prevents Basement Flooding
Clogged gutters can lead to overflow, resulting in water seeping into your basement. Of the many horror-related basement flooding stories you’ve probably heard – when your basement floods, it can also mean irreplaceable damage to your furniture and other valuables.
Did you know your gutters can affect the landscaping of your home?
#5 Preserves Exterior Landscaping
A part of your home’s value is directly related to the curb appeal generated by landscaping. Managing the prevention of gutter-related landscaping damage such as soil erosion, and plant and flower damage is as simple as ensuring gutters are kept clean so that rainwater can effectively be channelled away from your landscape – or on a higher level purposefully channelled into certain areas for management of your landscape.
#6 Minimizes Pest Infections
Gutters – which aren’t an obvious checkpoint for many – become a neglected area by homeowners/occupiers. This can lead to clogged gutters. Clogged gutters can create stagnant water, which provides breeding grounds for mosquitoes and other pests. Regular gutter cleaning helps eliminate these breeding grounds, reducing the risk of pest infestations and associated health risks.
#7 Improves Gutter Lifespan
Debris buildup in gutters can lead to rust, corrosion, and detachment from the fascia board. By maintaining clean gutters, you not only enhance their appearance but also prolong their lifespan, saving you from costly repairs.
#8 Maintains Home Beauty and Value
Clean gutters contribute to your home’s curb appeal and overall value. Clogged gutters can deter potential buyers and raise concerns about the integrity of your home’s structure. Regular gutter maintenance will ensure your home remains attractive and well-maintained.
Our team at Umbrella Property Services not only provides years of knowledge in 
gutter cleaning but each service also includes complimentary:
- Health and safety checks
- Gutter debris removal
- Downspout checks
- Condition inspection
Our technicians always like to leave your home and exteriors in a better state than when we arrived. You can check out our gutter cleaning services here or request a free quote on our online form today!
Comments 1
My gutters are starting to get pretty old and come away from the house in spots. It’s worrying me that the water from major storms will start to seep down into my basement, just as you talked about. I think it’s time to find some professionals that can help us get new gutters on the home to collect that water.