How Fall Leaves Can Cause Problems for Your Gutters

Who doesn’t love fall? From beautiful leaves to pumpkin picking, it’s a beautiful time of year. However, the very leaves we love to look at can actually cause quite a few problems for our gutters.

Why is this? What should home owners look out for and keep in mind? 

As leaves fall from the trees, they can land on roofs, and eventually slide into gutters.

Gutters are meant to direct water away from the roof, siding, and foundation. The problem is, when leaves block the gutters, they can prevent water from draining away. This then leads to wet leaves accumulating in gutters, creating dense muck. Over time, more debris, such as twigs. Pine needles, acorns, and much more can get trapped as well. As all of this collects, water eventually gets stuck on the roof, leading to overflow, leaks, and all kinds of other damage.

In addition, as debris continues to collect and mix with water, this all begins to add weight to the gutter, weighing it down, and leading to the possibility of eventual gutter sagging or pulling away. This is especially an issue if the gutters are already loose. 

So, what is the best way to prevent leaf-related issues in your gutters? 

There are many ways to counteract these problems. First of all, keeping branches trimmed back and away from your home makes a huge difference.

You can also take a walk around your home and just look at your gutters throughout the fall. This allows you to see any possible damage or issues before they worsen, especially before the winter arrives with its heavy snowfall.

Finally, if you are uncertain whether or not you have an issue, simply call us at CR3 American exteriors for a free inspection.