When it comes to home maintenance, most homeowners are aware of the importance of a good roof and a strong foundation. One fact many homeowners may not realize is how their home's foundation depends on the roof and guttering being in good condition. Find out how your roof and gutters impact the foundation on your home.

Gutters Work To Keep Water Away From The Soil Around Your House

When it is pouring down rain and you step out of your door, your gutters can help prevent the water pouring off the roof and onto your head. While this is a convenient benefit of gutters, their main purpose is to keep water from pooling around your home's foundation. The gutter system that is working properly is directing the water from your roof to a specific area so it can be carried away from your home's foundation.

Your Home's Gutters Depend On You

Gutter downspouts are responsible for directing water away from the foundation. If the gutters along the edge of your roof are clogged up with debris, they will back up and overflow, causing not only damage to your roof, but also allowing water to pool in that area around your home's foundation. When the gutters on your home are clogged, the water they hold never reaches the downspouts. The longer water sits against the foundation, the easier it is to cause cracks and find its way into the basement or crawlspace of your house. Taking time to regularly clean out your gutters is important to your foundation because:

• When your home's foundation is weakened by water remaining pooled alongside it, its structural integrity also becomes compromised. In a new home, a damaged foundation can cause misaligned doors and sloping counter tops.

• Cracks in your home's foundation allow water to seep in. Over time, if a crack is not properly sealed in time, the moisture creates the perfect conditions for mold and mildew growth. Mold and mildew growth can become a health hazard.

Remember that gutter cleaning is important even if you do not have trees around your home that drop leaves. The asphalt that can wash off your roof's shingles can cause clogged gutters over time as well. Water guards designed to prevent debris from getting into your gutters is a good idea, but making sure you still check them from time to time is important for cleaning out small debris like the grit off shingles. Gutter guards are available at most home improvement stores.

If your home does not have properly installed gutters and downspouts, contact a company like Northwest Rain Gutter.