Prevent Water Damage by Clearing Clogged Gutters

12/20/2021 (Permalink)

Fall is here and and as the temperature starts to drop, so do the leaves. It is important to clean your gutters and remove the leaves, in order to avoid water drainage issues in the winter and spring.  Gutters clogged with leaves often cause water problems for homes. 

When gutters are clogged, water from rain or melting snow is unable to freely flow off your roof and an ice dam may form when the temperature dips below freezing.  An ice dam is a ridge of ice that forms at the edge of a roof and prevents additional melting snow from draining off the roof.  As the snow continues to melt, from the heat of the sun or by heat escaping from your home, it likely will refreeze at the edges and other juncture points of your roof. The refreezing water has a damming effect creating an even bigger ice dam behind it.  Continuous feeding of the ice dam by melting and refreezing snowmelt can cause significant damage.  As the water seeps under shingles it refreezes, expanding and creating an even bigger gap for future drainage to fill and further the cycle.  During this process, shingles are being raised and eventually the water that backs up behind the dam, and underneath the shingles, can leak into your home and cause damage to walls, ceilings, insulation, and create a perfect environment for mold growth.  In extreme cases, we have seen water pouring down into living areas when winter rain falls on the ice dam. 

Aim to clean your gutters twice a year, in the spring and in the fall. If you are dealing with water damage from clogged gutters or ice dams, give SERVPRO of Milton/Braintree a call at 781-980-7060.