It’s exciting purchasing your first house, it’s even more exciting when you get to move in. There is very little that can compare to the feeling of being in charge of your own surroundings, that you can adjust them to your own tastes, and that you’re now a responsible homeowner.
However, before you dive into redecorating all the rooms in the house, you need to be aware that owning a property brings a certain amount of responsibility. We’re not talking about the responsibility to repay your mortgage company, although that is an essential part of it.
It’s simple maintenance. Before you can invest in DIY gazebo kits, outside kitchens, a new garage, or even a new car, you need to make sure your house is maintained properly.
A little maintenance today can save you from getting a huge repair bill in the future.
What may surprise you is that the gutters are one of the most important elements of your house, they have to be maintained.
What The Gutter Does
The gutter goes around the edge of your house and collects the water off your roof, it then goes down a pipe and off someone else. That stops water dripping on you when you’re going in and out.
However, it does much more than this. The gutter stops water from cascading down the side of your house. When water cascades down your house it is likely to find a way through your walls and into your home. You’ll then be faced with water issues in your home, these can cause a variety of issues:
- Damp
The simplest issue is that the water causes the humidity levels to rise in your house, this will provide the best conditions for mold to start growing. Unfortunately, mold is not good for your health.
There are a variety of health issues that can arise from living in a moldy environment, you don’t really want any of them.
- Wet Rot
From the perspective of your house, a much bigger concern is wet rot. When water ingress happens and it goes unnoticed, the water will collect, usually by being absorbed by the wood in the frame of your home.
Over time the wood will soften and start to rot, this can seriously affect the structural integrity of your home.
- Flooding
In the most extreme cases, water can actually pour into your home from an overflowing gutter and start to flood it. This can damage sentimental items and cause a huge amount of damage to your furnishings.
It will take time and an insurance claim to get everything back, but you’ll never be able to replace the sentimental items.
The good news is that you can avoid this from happening! Simply choose a dry, windless day and climb up to your gutters. You’ll then be able to clear all the debris from them and make sure the downpipes are clear;
Lastly, check any drains at ground level, you’ll want the water to disappear as quickly as possible. If you’re not ready to do this yourself there are professionals who will do it for you.
