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K-Guard Kansas City Blog

Critters that are Hiding in Your Gutters This Fall

Squirrel Living in a Home's Gutter System - K-Guard Heartland

Our gutter systems are our first defense in protecting our homes from drainage issues like foundation damage, leaks, siding damage, damage to the soffit and fascia boards, landscaping damage, etc. Gutters are necessary for all homes and should perform well at keeping your home protected from drainage issues. But did you know that critters can call gutter systems home?

 

Yes, we just mentioned critters. And they can live in your gutters. If you’re squirming right now, don’t worry – there are some things you can do to prevent them from inhabiting your gutters and causing significant damage. Creepy critters have no place living in our gutter systems, but they often do. Keep reading to learn about critters that are hiding in your gutters this fall and how you can keep them out for good.

 

1. Insects

Creepy crawlies like mosquitoes, wasps, millipedes, and centipedes love to call a gutter system home. Half-round gutter systems and gutters that have screens or filters can become an ideal ecosystem for insects. All they need to live and breed is higher humidity levels, a temperature that’s right for their particular species, and a steady source of food.

 

So how does a gutter system become an ideal ecosystem for insects? If the gutter system isn’t cleaned often, debris like leaves, dirt, and rocks can get trapped, ultimately causing clogs. Clogs impede water flow and force excess water off the gutters while leaving some standing water inside of the gutter. When debris combines with water that’s not able to flow freely as a result of clogs and improper cleaning, insects thrive, especially during spring, summer, and early fall when the weather is still humid.

 

2. Rodents

Chipmunks and squirrels are adorable but they should nest in trees, not inside a gutter system. Rodents like chipmunks, squirrels, and mice often call untidy gutter systems home since everything they need to survive can be found in one. 

 

Though some rodents can be cute, they can cause extensive damage to your entire gutter system. If they live in your gutter system, rodents will make your gutters messy along with creating a blockage that prevents water from flowing freely through the downspouts and draining away from your home. In addition to creating clogs and leaving a mess behind, rodents can also ruin your home’s roof and siding by chewing on them and ultimately making their way into your home.

 

3. Birds

When we see birds, it’s usually as they’re flying by, or nesting inside of a tree or on some structure. The last place you expect to see a bird is inside of your gutter system. If you’ve ever had a bird build a nest near your front or back door then you’re aware of the mess they leave behind and how aggressive they can be when protecting their baby birds inside the nest.

 

All birds need to build a nest are dirt, twigs, and leaves, all of which are found in a half-round gutter system. Failing to clean a half-round gutter system could result in birds nesting throughout the gutter system, creating a mess that will inevitably clog your gutter system.

 

4. Worms

Worms are often found inside a half-round gutter system whether it’s untidy or clean. Worms need soil to survive which is often found inside half-round gutters. But how can an earthworm climb up a gutter system? They don’t typically crawl up a home to gain access to a gutter system, rather, some research suggests that they’re carried and dropped via birds. They can also find their way into your gutter system by falling from overhanging tree branches. However they make it inside of the gutters, worms shouldn’t live inside of your gutters.

 

How Can I Keep Critters Out of My Gutters?

If you have a half-round gutter system then you’ll want to keep your gutters as clean as possible to prevent creepy crawlies from entering. Keeping gutters clear of leaves, silt, twigs, and standing water can help keep critters out of your gutters, however, there’s always a chance critters will enter a half-round gutter system because of the ease of access with the inside of the gutter being completely exposed. 

 

A permanent solution to keeping critters out of your gutter system is to install the K-Guard System. Our complete gutter system eliminates the possibility of becoming clogged by pesky pests because of the design of our curved hood. It has a narrow opening that only water can squeeze into. Since only water adheres to our curved hood and enters the gutter system there is nowhere for debris, leaves, and pests to enter the gutter system, thus, it’ll never become clogged.

 

Contact our team today or call (913) 380-1616 to schedule your free estimate for installing the K-Guard System. We’ll examine your current gutter system and will offer an assessment as well as our recommendations for installing the K-Guard System in your home. We offer our gutter installation service to homeowners across both Missouri and Kansas including, but not limited to, the following locations:

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