As Massachusetts' roofing experts, we know first hand how important it is to keep your gutters clear of debris. And, with fall in full swing, it’s likely that your gutters are clogged with leaves. That’s bad news for your roof, but it is an easy fix. So, why is it so important to keep your drains clear? Well, we’re here to clear up that question today. Here are a few reasons why you should keep those drains clear, as presented by Red Dog’s Roofing, your local source for roofing repair and replacement services.

Why Keep Those Gutters Clear

When you let leaves pile up in the gutters of your home, you could be causing water to overflow over the sides of your gutters, you may leave water pooling on your roof, and you may be creating the perfect environment for pests.

Gutter Overflow

Gutters serve an important purpose for our homes. They’re tasked with clearing water away from our roofs and safely away from our homes. When you have a clogged gutter, water may just flow over the edges. When that happens, you’re dealing with two hazards. First of all, that overflowing water can fall too close to your home. That can mean damage to the foundation of your home, or in extreme cases, it can lead to flooding. Second, water that’s flowing over your gutters (instead of through them) may actually roll over the side of your gutters and end up hitting your home. When that happens, moisture can penetrate your home’s siding, and, over time, that can cause damage to the structure of your home. When water penetrates your home’s exterior, you can be left with mold and mildew problems, and in extreme cases, structural damage. Gutter overflow is an easy problem to avoid — just keep those gutters clean.

Pooling Water

Similarly, when your gutters are clogged, they can cause water to pool on your roof. Think about it: If you have no route for precipitation to shed from your roof, it’ll end up sitting up there until it evaporates. Now, water simply shouldn’t pool on a roof. Pooling water can penetrate the subsurface of your roof, and that can cause major damage. This excess water can leak into your attic and the walls of your home. Gone unnoticed, you can rack up thousands of dollars in repairs, simply because you haven’t kept your gutters cleared.

Building a Nest for Pests

Pests can make your gutters their home. Sure, you might get squirrels and birds that make themselves at home atop your abode. But you may also be building an ideal environment for bacteria and mold when you don’t keep those gutters clean. That’s bad news once again, since that bacteria and mold can make its way into your home, and they can damage the structure of your roof. A clean roof and clean gutters mean a healthy, protected home. Well, we hope you’re convinced: A few dozen leaves can be a real problem for your roof and your home. Be sure to have your gutters cleaned this fall to keep your roof ready for the coming winter!

Red Dog’s Roofing Is Your Local Roofing Contractor Company

As always, count on the crew here at Red Dog’s if you do have any roofing issues! We provide roof installation, repair, and replacement services for folks throughout Fitchburg, Leominster, Gardner, Westminster, Lunenburg, Lancaster, Ashburnham, Princeton, and Sterling — feel free to view our service area. We also provide weatherproofing, insulation, and snow removal services. Schedule an appointment for roofing services today! We’ll make sure that your roof is ready for anything that Mother Nature can conjure this season.