It’s that time of year when we’re all doing spring cleaning and getting our houses ready for the warmer weather. Some of us do deep cleaning throughout the home, while others are tackling large outdoor projects like repainting the home’s exterior or working on a new landscaping project.
No matter which category you fall into, you probably have a long list of spring cleaning chores to complete within the next couple of months. If you have traditional half-round gutters, one of those chores should be to clean them. All sorts of debris can find its way inside the gutters and downspouts, including pests and creepy crawlies.
Yes, some pests love to call gutter systems home. Continue reading to learn why and how to deal with them inside your gutters so you can keep them out for good!
Why Do Pests Like Gutter Systems?
Pests that like to call gutter systems home prefer the environment they provide for laying eggs and keeping safe. For pests like insects, including mosquitoes, it’s an ideal home, breeding ground, and place to lay eggs. Mosquitoes love standing water; they thrive in a moist environment and prefer to breed and lay their eggs in it. Did you know that water helps mosquito eggs to hatch? Unfortunately, half-round gutters that aren’t functioning properly will hold standing water, creating the ideal environment for these pests to survive and multiply.
Other pests like rodents, including squirrels, chipmunks, rats, and even birds, also love to call a half-round gutter system home. Rodents will make their nests in spaces where they feel safe, so a gutter system is ideal. It’s high up so predators can’t get them, and it provides access to water and even some food depending on other pests that are neighbors dwelling in the gutter system. Birds will also build nests to keep their eggs safe from predators and prefer to be high up.
Believe it or not, even creepy crawlies and those that slither like centipedes and snakes will take residence in a gutter system. They can climb up a downspout and live inside the gutters, or they can fall from a tree onto the roof and ultimately find their way inside the gutter system. If other pests like rodents have already nested inside the gutters, they have an ideal home.
What Harm Can Pests Do to My Gutter System?
Are you now wondering what harm these pests can do besides make your skin crawl? If a rodent or bird has built a nest, then that nest can be a blockage, preventing water from flowing through the gutters. This of course can cause damage like excess standing water that can ruin roof shingles. Other damage that can occur due to a blockage from a nest includes the following: overflowing gutters, sagging gutters, water damage to the interior walls, foundation damage, and so on.
All this excess weight from a nest and water that can’t flow through the system can put extra pressure on the gutter system, loosening bolts and screws and even forcing sections of the gutter system to split and create leaks.
How to Deal with Pests Inside of Gutters
If you do make your way up a ladder to begin spring cleaning your gutters and notice pests, don’t fear. There are some things you can do to remove them and keep them from returning to your gutter system. First, if you notice dangerous pests like snakes, don’t try to remove them yourself. Contact a professional to safely handle dangerous pests to avoid injury.
Next, you’ll want to focus on removing their homes so they don’t want to return. If a bird’s nest doesn’t have eggs, simply remove the nest from the gutter system (with gloves on, of course!) and place it in a nearby location like in a tree. If you notice another type of nest, remove and discard it.
After you’ve removed nests, make sure to clean your gutters regularly, at least two times per year. Deep cleaning them every six months will help prevent large clogs from forming to ensure water flow isn’t impeded by debris. Cleaning your gutters regularly is a short-term solution since you must clean them often. K-Guard/One Stop Home Improvement offers a gutter cleaning service that is both professional and keeps your gutters in tip-top shape. We’ll clean your gutter system and make them sparkling clean so you don’t have to take hours out of your busy day or risk injury.
If your gutters are trapping debris even when you remove clogs, it may be time to repair or replace them. K-Guard/One Stop Home Improvement Shop offers a gutter repair service and has durable, effective gutter systems to choose from. Our seamless gutters prevent leaking gutters and trapping debris, while our K-Guard Gutters keep debris out for good, ultimately blocking pests from even entering the gutter system.
No matter which system you choose, we have the right gutter system for your home’s needs. Our gutter solutions are top-of-the-line and will complement the unique beauty of your home. We’ll never void your roof’s warranty, and your gutter system will look new for decades. Book your free estimate today!
