Whether your property was damaged by natural disasters or a series of bad luck mishaps, there is no denying that home safety has become more complicated than ever before. With so many people living in the same homes, and with a world that is becoming increasingly prone to pandemics and climate change, it’s more important than ever to be aware of your home’s potential threats and take steps to minimize them.
Keeping your gutters clear of debris and blocked downspouts are essential to ensure that the rainwater drains away from your home and prevents it from causing serious property damage. Without regular maintenance either by yourself or by a professional gutter cleaning service such as Gutter Cleaning Asheville, the water in your gutters will overflow into the soil and run against the exterior walls of your home, compromising the integrity of your foundation and creating a host of other problems for you and your family.
Cracked Foundations: Over time, the water in your gutters can soften the ground around your home’s foundation, compromising the footing and resulting in severe cracks in your foundation wall. During winter, this can cause built-up water to freeze in areas of your foundation and cause the wall to sag or even collapse.
Rotten Wood: Clogged gutters can also lead to moisture damage to the wood fascia surrounding your home’s building. Eventually, this water will rot the fascia board and the plywood in your roof, causing serious structural issues that require professional repair.
Slippery Sidewalks: Overflowing gutters can create puddles and ice dams on the sidewalks and driveways surrounding your home, which can make it dangerous for anyone to walk through them. Avoid this problem by installing proper gutters with spouts that extend far from any pedestrian traffic zones.
Landscaping:
A well-maintained yard can deter trespassers, and it can also help to buttress your home’s security by making it more difficult for them to scale your fences or hide out in your hedges and shrubs. Oversized hedges and shrubs can make it easier for thieves to see what they are up against, so trimming them regularly can reduce their ability to get into your home.
Ladder Safety:
Using an extension ladder for cleaning your gutters can be a tricky task. If your gutters are more than one story high, a ladder can be too tall for you to use safely, especially if you are working from a small space or have poor balance. For this reason, it is vital to follow some basic ladder safety tips before climbing up to the top of your gutters and downspouts.
Protective Equipment:
During the gutter-cleaning process, it is important to wear protective gear, including work gloves and a dust mask. This will keep you safe from pests and other critters that might be living in the debris that can cause a blockage in your gutters.
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