A Spectacular Spring

The Importance Of Gutter Cleaning To Keep Bugs At Bay

20 July 2023 by Terri Holmes

A clean gutter system is a functional gutter system, and it has tremendous importance for the health and safety of everyone at your home and business in ways that you probably don't realize.

Neglected gutters that fill up with dead leaves, fallen twigs, and other kinds of debris not only put your property at risk of water leaks and other damage, but they can become the perfect habitat for unwelcome guests. There are all kinds of bugs that like to hide in dirty gutters.

What Bugs Might Be Hiding in Your Gutter System?

Here are some of the bugs that commonly invade unclean gutters:

1. Mosquitoes: Stagnant water, like the kind that can start to pool in blocked gutters, is an ideal breeding ground for the common mosquito. Clean gutters deprive these pests of a place to lay their eggs and reduce the mosquito population around your home.
2. Bees and Wasps: When a section of a gutter is neglected, bees and wasps can start building their nests in the debris. They favor spots that are up high and mostly out of sight, so your gutter can seem like a secure spot to hide.
3. Ants: Carpenter ants, in particular, can be attracted to the decaying organic material in your gutters and the moisture, and they can quickly establish colonies that can cause serious structural damage to your building or home.
4. Spiders: Spiders love clogged gutters because they're already ideal breeding grounds for the insects that spiders use for food. The webs they cast, however, can make an already clogged gutter even worse.
5. Flies: All that organic material in your gutters is also a magnet for flies because the decomposition process essentially causes the leaves and twigs to ferment, and the sugars that are released are a big food source for these pests.
6. Beetles: There are thousands of species of beetles out there, and some of them love to hide in any spot that's damp and full of decay. Their larvae can do a lot of damage to wood, plastic, and plaster.

Proper gutter cleaning isn't just about aesthetics or preventing water damage and protecting your structure. It's also about health and safety. Many of the insects willing to make their home in a clogged or dirty gutter can be harmful to pets and humans. Regular gutter cleaning can help you preserve the longevity of your gutter system and protect everyone that's on the property.

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