Gutters are designed to conduct rain and water to downspouts that discharge the water at or below the ground. When gutters get clogged, they’re no longer able to perform this essential duty. Nothing clogs gutters faster, or more completely than falling leaves in the autumn.

At the very least, when gutters are clogged, rain will flow over the gutters and create a curtain of dipping water all around the house. Someone coming to the door is dripped on. Flower beds are dripped on. Over time, the water creates a divot in the dirt all the way around the house. But, that’s not really the worst of it, by any means.

The real problem is when the temperature drops. When the temperature drops, the water can do damage before it ever hits the ground.

Imagine snow is piled up on your roof. Heat from the roof is melting the snow closest to your home’s shingles. That water would roll down into the gutters and down the downspouts. But, with the gutters clogged, melting snow or ice can’t follow the path that was designed for it. The melting snow or ice backs up on the roof where shingles are not designed to stop the flow.

Shingles stop water from getting through to the plywood below with the expectation that the water is coming down from the sky as rain or snow. Otherwise, snow and ice on the roof, when it melts, falls under the control of gravity and flows downward. But, with the gutters clogged by leaves, the water builds upward and under the shingles.

You need the leaves cleaned from your gutters but what about climbing ladders and falls?

Considerable damage can be done to a roof when gutters are clogged. This is why it’s essential to clean your gutters. But, with the risk of falling from a ladder, is it worth climbing up to clean those gutters yourself?

Fortunately, there are professionals who are trained and experienced in climbing up ladders to clean gutters. They’ve studied safe ladder usage, including safety factors about reaching out while on a ladder. These professionals will bring the appropriate equipment, will wear the appropriate clothing, and will clean leaves out of gutters safely.

Don’t risk the fall this fall – let professionals clean the leaves from your gutters

Thinking about getting the ladder out and cleaning the leaves out of those gutters? You might want to think about this first. The cost of having professionals clean leaves out of your gutters is low, particularly when compared to the risk of falling for a homeowner.