While the colors of Fall may be beautiful, there is nothing pretty about a clog due to leaves. Fallen leaves may seem harmless, but they can create some real problems from the top of your house with your gutters, to the bottom with your sewer. Here are the three top problems that leaves can cause for your home.
- Gutter clog: As they pile up, leaves can form a barrier that can prevent rainwater from flowing away from the house effectively, causing stagnant water. In the short-term, this can cause a breeding ground for bugs. In the long-term, this could cause structural damage to your home.
- Leaves can clog sewer drains. When the leaves fall in your yard, they don’t just stay there. Wind and rain can carry leaves into sewer drains. This can cause blockages, or worse, in your drains and pipes.
- Root intrusion is also something to beware when it comes to leaves getting in your sewer lines. As the leaves break down, they release nutrients that attract tree roots. These roots seek out sources of water, which can be an extreme problem if your sewer pipes have cracks or loose joints.
Some easy steps to prevent damage would be regularly cleaning out your gutters and downspouts and tree maintenance to minimize the number of leaves falling into your yard. Most importantly, schedule a regular sewer inspection and maintenance to catch issues early. If you suspect a blockage, don’t hesitate to call KB Plumbing.
