Gutter facts

Here at Gutter-Vac, we live gutters! Here are some facts about your gutters that you probably didn’t know:

Installing Gutter Protection Devices

Having permanently fixed gutter protection devices installed in your gutters will cause long term problems for your home. While gutter protection devices will stop the large leaf debris from falling into your gutters, they won’t stop the fine dirt and dust from getting in, slowly building up and eventually blocking your gutters and downpipes. Unfortunately, if permanent gutter protection devices have been installed in your gutters there is no way to clean the gutters without cutting or removing those very expensive guards.

Gutter Maintenance

We recommend regular gutter cleaning and a preventative maintenance plan for your gutter cleaning. We guarantee that this will be a more cost effective solution to your gutter maintenance problems. However, if you insist on installing a gutter protection device we recommend a good quality removable gutter guard. Remember, there is no such thing as a gutter protection device that will completely eliminate the need for regular gutter cleaning – so don’t be fooled by those salesmen.

Gutters & the Environment

Everything that goes down stormwater drains ends up untreated in our rivers, lakes and the ocean. Pollutants in stormwater are having a disastrous impact on all aquatic life, not only harming fish, plants and wildlife, but reducing the water quality for humans. The rotting debris that fill your gutters are extremely high in nutrients. While those nutrients are fantastic for your gardens, they aren’t fantastic for our creeks and rivers, in fact, they are a pollutant. If your gutters are full of debris when it rains 2 things can happen, the first is that your gutters & downpipes will get blocked and if that happens then there is a very good chance your ceiling will flood and property will get damaged. If you are lucky and your gutters don’t block, then the nutrient rich waste that is sitting in your gutters will end up washing into the storm water and polluting our waterways.

Gutters & Vermin

Full gutters are a fantastic breeding ground and food source for a whole range of vermin including beetles, cockroaches, mosquitoes, mice, rats and spiders. Many property owners will get their property treated for pests, but then leave their gutters full of debris. It is only a matter of time before those vermin will reinfest a property.

Gutters & Rainwater

Rainwater tanks are another household item that are used to store water. Without clean gutters, all the water born debris will go straight into your rainwater tank and contaminate your water.

Gutters & Fire

When your gutters are full of leaves, the wind will blow them over the back of the gutters and into the soffit (the area that runs from the top of an exterior house wall to the outer edge of the roof) and the ceiling of your home. Leaves in this area are a genuine fire hazard.