The Dangers of Bad Gutters

Bad for your home.

Without prompt attention, clogged gutters (like those in Image A on the left) allow water to collect on your roof and can cause the wood to weaken and/or rot over time.

Bad for your basement

Hanging or disconnected gutters that allow water to pool at the foundation of your home can contribute to a wet basement via water seepage and/or erosion of the grade (declined dirt ramp running from the foundation) designed to keep water away from the home. Gutters and downspouts installed without significant channeling away from the foundation can sometimes also contribute to the problem. Ferris Home Improvements, however, can help you evaluate and solve any roof drainage issues. Image (at left), adapted from an article on This Old House.com, illustrates how older homes without gutters can be prone to water collection at their foundation. While this picture suggests the more costly solution of installing a French drain system around the home’s foundation, Ferris Home Improvements can offer you other more cost-effective options like installing a proper gutter/downspout/extension system. To read the entire article on This Old House.com about the importance of channeling water away from your home, click here.

Bad for your health

Mold Inspector.com features Image B on their site as (see left) “advanced mold growth” that had penetrated through ceiling drywall, caused by “a roof leak which enabled mold to grow in both the attic and the drywall ceiling below” (see Image C on left). While the article does not specify whether gutters were involved in the roof leak, pooling water on any area of the roof can eventually seep into the roof structure and damage drywall. Click here to read the full article on Mold Inspector.com.

Water pooling in gutters can be hazardous to your health outside as well as inside, as pooling water can attract mosquitoes around your home. New York’s West Chester County Department of Health features Image A on their website in an effort to caution its residents to keep their gutters clear (unlike the photo) to reduce water pooling, thereby reducing the risk of mosquito breeding grounds.

Bad for your wallet

As we mentioned above, gutters left unmaintained are bad for your home and your health, two of your most important life investments. Let Ferris Home Improvements install and regularly maintain a proper gutter drainage system now for your home so you can rest assured your wallet won’t suffer in the future.

Check out our Gutter Products page to see other innovative products we can install to help you maintain your gutters year-round with minimal labor. Or, just ask us about the options!