Gutters are seemingly simple structures that run along the edge of your home’s roof. Despite their unassuming appearance, however, gutters are a vital part of a house that shouldn’t be skipped or forgotten about.
The entire purpose of gutters is to redirect water away from your home. Without gutters, water pools up along the home’s foundation, which leads to a slew of serious and expensive problems. Homes without functioning gutters are more susceptible to water damage than homes with working gutters.
While redirecting water is the main purpose of gutters, that isn’t the only benefit that these cost-effective tools provide for you and your home. Keep reading to learn more about gutter benefits and how they can help preserve the structure of your home.
Why Do Houses Have Gutters?
When rain hits your roof, that water runs down into the gutters. The gutters transport that water into the downspout and direct it away from your home’s foundation. This keeps your home’s foundation and the area around the house protected from excess water.
Without gutters, however, the rainwater has nowhere to go except for down along your home’s foundation. This water will begin to erode the soil that your house’s foundation is sitting on and even seep into your basement or crawl space. No one wants water leaking and seeping into their home as it can cause a wide array of problems for both the well-being of yourself and your home.
Excess water leads to water damage, which means expensive repair bills and the potential for mold growth. Gutters can help stop these problems before they even begin.
What Are The Benefits Of Gutters On Houses?
The benefits that gutters provide are directly connected to the gutters’ ability to redirect water away from your home. Because of this, the gutters will need to be properly installed and in working order for you and your home to reap the following benefits. If you don’t keep the gutters maintained, they won’t be able to function as designed and could have the same effect on your home as having no gutters at all.
Increases Home Value
Gutters increase the value of your home. While this may not seem like a major benefit, if you ever decide to sell your home or use the home as collateral, you will want the house to be worth as much as possible. Home inspectors will even examine your gutters, as well as other aspects of your home, before an appraisal.
Prevents Soil Erosion
When water is left to cascade off your roof and around the foundation, it will slowly start to carry the topsoil away and erode the soil around your home.
Since your home sits on the foundation, which then sits on the soil, any erosion can lead to your home’s foundation shifting. This creates a serious ripple effect that can lead to structural damage to your home’s walls, floors, ceiling, bulkhead, and even its roof.
Prevents Mold and Mildew Growth
Mold and mildew growth is not something that anyone wants in or around their home. These fungal growths are not only unsightly to look out for with an unpleasant odor, but mold can actually eat away at the surface it is growing on and even compromise the structural integrity of the item.
Unfortunately, mold and mildew are often found in moist areas with poor ventilation, such as basements. Having gutters on your home is a wonderful way to help redirect rainwater away from your home’s foundation.
Keeps Bugs At Bay
Soggy soil and water pooling along the foundation of your home create the perfect breeding ground for various insects, including mosquitoes, flies, and gnats.
Not only are these insects annoying, but they can quickly turn your once peaceful home into a war zone with you and your family being attacked by blood-sucking pests. Installing gutters, however, helps to prevent this from occurring by keeping water away from your home’s foundation.
Provides a Complete Look
While not the most important benefit that gutters on houses provide, these devices do help give the exterior of your home a nice crisp appearance.
Gutters, when installed correctly, improve the overall curb appeal of your home, making the outside of your home look complete and well put together.
Do I Have To Maintain The Gutters?
Gutters are not maintenance-free and will require some care to keep them functioning properly. The most frustrating task for gutters has always been cleaning leaves out of them. This usually requires getting on a ladder and manually removing the debris from the gutters. Because of the headache that this job can cause, many homeowners avoid guttering cleaning.
Unfortunately, not keeping your gutters clean and clear can be just as damaging to your home as not having any gutters.
Clogged gutters cannot properly redirect water from your home and can even become a breeding ground for mosquitoes. Furthermore, leaves clogging your gutters can be a potential fire hazard in areas prone to wildfires.
In recent years, however, several products have exploded on the market to help keep debris, such as leaves and sticks, from falling into the gutter. These items are usually budget-friendly, easy to install and go a long way to keeping your gutters free of clogs.
How Long Do Gutters Last?
The lifespan of gutters depends heavily on what material they are moved from. Aluminum and galvanized steel gutters are two common types of gutters, and they have a lifespan of about 20 years.
Vinyl gutters are another popular option, and they have a lifespan of about 10 to 20 years, depending on the area’s climate. Copper gutters are more expensive but can last for an average of 50 years.
No matter what type of gutter you have, it will need to be properly installed and regularly maintained in order to benefit your home. This means repairing or replacing any damaged gutters as soon as possible, as well as cleaning them at least once a year.